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