On or about Thu, 11 Dec 2003 13:21:39 -0600, Alan Minyard
allegedly uttered:

On 11 Dec 2003 05:45:39 -0800, (Tony Williams) wrote:

"Thomas Schoene" wrote in message link.net...
Tony Williams wrote:

Now let's look at the opposition. The 'European standard' 27mm Mauser
BK 27, selected over any US gun by the JSF contenders, weighs 100 kg
and uses much less space (only one barrel).

Of course, the BK27 was then abandoned by Lockheed Martin after the JSF
source selection and replaced by a 25mm GAU-12/U Gatling gun.

I understand that was at the initiative of GD, who happened to be
given the contract for designing the JSF's BK 27 gun installation and
also just happen to make the GAU-12/U (shouldn't they have declared an
interest, or something?) .....their argument was on cost grounds, not
quality (and I suspect they may have received a sympathetic hearing in
favour of a US gun rather than a German one, especially post-Iraq).
The BK 27 was originally selected purely on merit.

Tony Williams
Military gun and ammunition website: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk
Military gun and ammunition discussion forum:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/autogun/messages/

You have no idea. The Mauser was an inferior weapon.

Really, why?

"Citing lower costs, greater lethality and improved supportability,
The Boeing Company this week targeted the Advanced 27mm Aircraft
Cannon for its next-generation Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat
aircraft"
"It's the lightest, most accurate and reliable gun based on our
initial studies," said Dennis Muilenburg, JSF weapon system director
for Boeing. "Our comparative assessment found the 27mm cannon to be
more affordable, more lethal and more supportable than any of the
competitors."

Both from
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...se_990428n.htm

Yes they are the losers, but they seemed convinced.

Or we could look at the specs

BK27
100kg
ROF 1770 rpm
Muzzle Velocity 1025m/s

GAU-12/U
123kg
ROF 4200rpm
Muzzle Velocity 1036m/s (API)
Muzzle Velocity 1085m/s (TP, HEI)

SO the major differences a

BK has more muzzle energy
BK is lighter
BK has ballistically matched ammunition so a consistent aimpoint
BK round is more destructive
BK round will hold it's energy for a further distance
GAU has a higher ROF.

So tell us again why the Mauser is an inferior weapon?

---
Peter Kemp

Life is short - Drink Faster