35mm Millenium
Oerlikon GDM-008
Overview
35mm Millenium
Top view of a 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system on a Danish navy vessel.
Source: Forsvaret -
© Public domain
Germany - Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
35mm/1000 KDG
Saudi Arabia
Venezuela
Description
Introduction
The Millenium is a modern era close-in weapon system of Swiss origin. It was developed as a private venture by Oerlikon Contraves from the early 1990's into the 2000's. The name Millenium is derived from the 1.000 rpm cyclic rate of fire of the revolver cannon used.
Design
The Millenium shares many design elements with the land based SkyShield and later Mantis anti-aircraft and C-RAM systems. The unmanned mount is rather small given its firepower and requires no deck penetration other than power supply. A high rate of fire is achieved by using a revolver cannon. A linkless feed system is used to feed ammunition at this high rate. The combined muzzle velocity sensor and fuse setting system allows the use of AHEAD pre-fragmented ammunition that disperses into a cone of tungsten pellets just in front of the target, significantly increasing chances to hit. Although multiple ammunition types can be used, there does not seem to be a quick change system to select ammunition type.
Firepower
The Millenium has a 1.000 rpm cyclic rate of fire. For use against surface targets a 200 rpm or single shot fire mode can be used. Effective range is about 5 km versus surface targets, 3.5 km versus aircraft and about 1.5 km versus missiles. Ammunition options include AHEAD, HEI and APDS-T. The 252 round magazine reportedly allows for 20 engagements of aerial targets or 10 surface targets.
Sensors
The Millenium is fired using external inputs. For use as a close-in weapon system radar input and a fire control system are required. The CEROS 200 fire control radar and optronic sensor and Terma fire control system are listed as standard. There also is a camera located above the barrel to observe effect of firing. A secondary fire control option is manual control using optical sensor.
Users
The first user to acquire the Millenium system was Denmark, becoming operational in 2005. The Millenium was tested by the US Navy with Lockheed Martin as US partner, but it was not adopted. Millenium has also been exported to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
Details
Media
35mm Millenium
A 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system seen on an Indonesian navy Martadinata class frigate in 2022.
Source: US Navy
Copyright: Public domain
35mm Millenium
Right side view of a 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system on a Danish navy vessel.
Source: Forsvaret
Copyright: Public domain
35mm Millenium
Left side view of a 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system on a Danish navy vessel.
Source: Forsvaret
Copyright: Public domain
35mm Millenium
Top rear view of a 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system on a Danish navy vessel.
Source: Forsvaret
Copyright: Public domain
35mm Millenium
Maintenance carried out on a 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system on a Danish navy vessel.
Source: Forsvaret
Copyright: Public domain
35mm Millenium
Maintenance carried out on a 35mm Millenium close-in weapon system on a Danish navy vessel.
Source: Forsvaret
Copyright: Public domain
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