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30mm DEFA



Overview


30mm DEFA 553

Oblique forward view of a 30mm DEFA 553 autocannon.
Source: Josep Milan at www.milweb.net - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
France
Type
Autocannon
Entered service
1954
Status
In service
Development
Late 1940's (DEFA 551)
1968 (DEFA 553)
Developer
France
Production
Early 1950's (DEFA 551 prototypes)
1954 - ? (DEFA 552)
1957 - ? (DEFA 522A)
1971 - ? (DEFA 553)
? (DEFA 554)
Producer
France
South Africa
Number produced
Over 13.500
Designations
DEFA / Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armement
DEFA 30 M 550 F2A (Alternative designation for DEFA 552A, this convention also applies to other models.
55C5 (DEFA 553 produced in South Africa)

Description


Introduction

The DEFA 550 is an early Cold War series of autocannon of French origin. These autocannon are intended for aircraft use. The design is based on a late World War 2 Nazi German prototype captured by Allied forces. The British Aden series was based on the same Mauser prototype design and uses similar ammunition dimensions.

Design

The DEFA 550 series has a design that has been derived from the Nazi German Mauser MK 213C/30 prototype. An intermediate French design was the 30M541 revolver cannon. A new longer 30x113mmB straight wall cartridge was developed for the 550 series. The DEFA 550 is a single barrel gas operated five chamber revolver cannon. It feeds from a single linked belt and has a high cyclic rate of fire. Over time the DEFA design was updated to improve reliability and service life. Mechanical firing was switched to electric firing in the DEFA 553. The DEFA 554 introduced a selectable rate of fire.

Firepower

The DEFA 550 series fires the 30x113mmB round from a single belt. These rounds proved effective in the air to air and in the air to ground role. Their large diameter allows for more HE filler, but also induces more drag than smaller caliber projectiles. The cyclic rate of fire is high about 1.200 rpm for most models. The DEFA 554 introduces a selectable option for 1.800 rpm.

Platforms

The DEFA has been the standard armament for several generations of French fighter aircraft and several foreign designs. These include the Mirage III, Mirage 5, Vautour, Jaguar, Super Etendard, Mirage F-1 and Mirage 2000. Foreign designs include the MB-326K and MB-339K, Israeli Kfir and A-4 Skyhawk, South African Impala and Cheetah and Brazilian AMX A-1A.

Users

The DEFA series of autocannon has been used by many nations due to the acquisition of French aircraft. Israel was a major user of French aircraft and various domestic copies of French designs, but on other aircraft such as the A-4E Skyhawk as well. The DEFA series remains in actvie service today, although it has not been selected for totally new designs for the past two decades.

Variants


List of 30mm DEFA variants

DEFA 551
Prototypes and pre-production run of the 30mm DEFA 550 design.
DEFA 552
First production model of the DEFA 550 design, introduced in 1954. This model has a forged revolver drum.
DEFA 552A
Improved production model of the DEFA 552 introduced around 1957. The improvements include a chrome lined barrel and milled revolver drum. Also known as Canon 30 M550 F2A in French nomenclature. Most common model of the DEFA 552 variants.
DEFA 553
Updated design effort carried out in 1968 and produced since 1971. Features an improved nitro-chrome barrel, muzzle blast reduction device, electric igniter, new munition feed and a pyrotechnic charge to clear and charge the weapon in flight.
DEFA 552B
Update of existing DEFA 552 with some of the improvements of the DEFA 553. Most notably the electrical ignition is added. This allows for ammunition commonality in mixed fleets with older aircraft using the DEFA 552 while newer aircraft use 553 or 554.
DEFA 554
Also known as Canon 30 M550 F4. Deep modernization of the DEFA 553 design, using three instead of two chambers for loading. This allows for a higher 1.800 rpm cyclic rate of fire for air to air use. A 1.200 rpm rate of fire can be selected for use against ground targets. The number of pyrotechnic charges has been increased from one to three charges.

30mm DEFA 552

A pair of 30mm DEFA 552A or B autocannon in a twin mount for use on a French Super Etendard strike aircraft as seen in 2008.
Source: Duch.seb - © CC BY-SA 3.0

Details


Facts 30mm DEFA 552A 30mm DEFA 553 30mm DEFA 554
General
Origin
France
Type
Autocannon
Caliber
Caliber
30x113mmB (mechanical primer)
Feed system
Single belt feed
Can be configured for left or right hand feed
Barrel length
1.4 m
Rifling
16 grooves, progressive right hand twist
Muzzle brake
No, plain muzzle
Muzzle velocity
815 m/s for HEI
Barrel life
3.000 rounds for DEFA 552
5.000 rounds for DEFA 552A
Operation
Action
Gas operated single barrel revolver cannon
Five chamber revolver
Rate of fire
1.100 to 1.200 rpm
Trigger
External 24/28 V electric charge
Mechanical striker
In flight cocking
No
Dimensions
Weight
79.8 kg for DEFA 552
81 kg for DEFA 552A
Length
1.66 m
Width
0.22 m
Height

Media