Oerlikon Millennium Gun – 35mm Multi-Role Weapon System

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Photo Credit: RHEINMETALL

System Overview

  • Multi-role anti-surface and anti-air defensive capability
  • Effective against conventional and asymmetric threats
  • Modular design with no deck penetration
  • Adaptable for missions such as harbour protection
  • Proven in service with NATO and non-NATO forces

Roles & Capabilities

Anti-Surface

  • Engages multiple high-speed asymmetric surface targets (FIAC swarming attacks)
  • Exceeds US Navy keep-out-range requirements

Anti-Air

  • Capable against anti-ship missiles, fast-attack aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and low, slow, small (LSS) air targets

Land-Based

  • Provides counter rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) defence

Performance Characteristics

  • Superior pointing accuracy and precision
  • Very high rate-of-fire
  • Ahead ammunition ensures high hit probability at extended ranges
  • Short reaction time and exceptional dynamics

Ammunition

Oerlikon Ahead®

  • Programmable (NATO KETF) rounds
  • Each round dispenses 152 × 3.3g tungsten alloy sub-projectiles
  • Spin-stabilized cone-shaped dense cloud
  • Payload >8kg/s per burst
  • Highly penetrative and destructive

Other Types

  • HEI, HEI-T, TP, TP-T (non-programmable)

Basic Configuration

  • Magazine capacity: up to 252 rounds ready to fire
  • Independent power supply (<1kVA load, UPS with maintenance-free battery pack)
  • Plinth installation: direct deck installation
  • Composite cupola: lightweight, cost-effective
  • Standard Ethernet data interfaces for CMS/FCS integration

Optional Features

  • Fire control computer for CMS/FCS integration and ballistic computation
  • ISO-Mount container system for rapid installation/removal
  • Extended cupola for high sea conditions
  • Shock ring for mine shock resistance
  • Boresight TV camera for observation and alignment

Technical Data

  • Weight on deck: 2,970kg
  • Swept radius: 3,950mm
  • Training arc: 360° continuous
  • Elevation arc: –15° to +85°
  • Training speed: 120°/s
  • Elevation speed: 100°/s
  • Calibre: 35mm × 228
  • Rate of fire: 1,000rds/min (burst), 200rds/min (rapid single shot)
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,050–1,175m/s depending on ammunition
  • Rounds ready to fire: up to 252

Main Sensor Components

  • Tracking Radar (TR): Operates in X‑band or Ku‑band, provides precise target data, and uses automatic search patterns for simple target acquisition.

  • Electro‑Optical (E/O) Unit: Includes an optional TV camera for visual identification and emergency aiming, serving as an alternative to radar tracking.

  • Onboard Computer: Integrated ballistic and fire‑control computer processes sensor data, calculates the optimal aiming point, and manages the weapon’s high rate of fire.

Data Input

  • Receives target information from its own sensors or from external search radars (e.g., S‑band AESA radar).

Tracking and Targeting

  • Integrated system tracks the target and computes precise firing solutions.

  • Employs AHEAD (Advancing‑Hit‑Efficiency‑and‑Destruction) programmable ammunition, which detonates into a cone of tungsten pellets for maximum effect against fast, small threats.

Autonomous Operation

  • Designed for rapid, autonomous engagement.

  • Functions as the last line of defense against close‑range threats such as missiles and drones.

Key Performance Highlights

  • Fire modes: single shot, rapid single shot, burst fire
  • High muzzle velocity ensures short flight times
  • Simplified fire control and lead computation
  • Effective against FIAC swarms, UAVs, and LSS targets
  • Engagement ranges exceed similar calibre systems
  • Large magazine capacity for sustained engagements
  • Fires multiple qualified 35mm ammunition types
  • Very high accuracy and short reaction time

Integration Approach

  • With integrated fire control computer: autonomous operation, CMS integration, navigation system data, target filtering, lead computation, ballistics, shot correction, Ahead processing
  • With external fire control system: simplified integration via data interface
  • Compatible with Rheinmetall and third-party fire control systems


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