In message , Eunometic
writes
The same homing system could be hardened for a guided cannon shell.
Either laser homing or laser beam riding. If the beam is properly
coded a pattern of cannon shells could saturate an area target.

Since high muzzle velocity would not be so critical for the accuracy
of such weapons since the gudience would compensate for fall off and
target velocity changes it might be possible to return to lower
velocity guns conceived more like the German WW2 MK 103 which was
incredibly compact and traded velocity for explosive load. For ultra
long ranges rocket boosted guided cannon shells might be used.

....so why bother with the cannon and the problems of hardening the
rounds, if you can get the same result with a simpler, cheaper rocket?

For sure it's _much_ easier and cheaper to fit guidance electronics into
a couple of soft-launched 70mm rockets, than into a hundred gun-launched
30mm shells: and the rocket gets you more range, more warhead, room for
a proximity fuze...


Gun-launched guided projectiles currently hover at the 100mm (Russian
AT-10 IIRC) mark with 76mm proposed but not yet proven or fielded: I'm
not convinced that guided 20-30mm shells are the answer for aircraft.
Going larger-calibre gets you a big heavy gun and curiosity why a gun is
the answer.

For most of the scenarios where guns are suggested as being required, an
accurate 27-30mm with a good ranging sight and reversionary gyro mode is
a good 'today' answer with laser-guided 70mm rockets a potential
replacement. If you need the guidance, the gun loses its charm: if you
can't get guidance, then the guided shells are ballast.

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk