Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun

The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun or Rheinmetall GDM-008 is a close-in weapon system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly known as Oerlikon Contraves) for mounting on ships. It is based on the 35/1000 revolver gun land-based air defense system and uses Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition.

Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun
Oerlikon Millennium 35mm Naval Revolver Gun System aboard the HDMS Absalon (F341)
Type	CIWS
Place of origin	Switzerland
Service history
In service	2003–present
Used by	Danish Navy Venezuelan Navy Indonesian Navy
Production history
Designed	1995
Manufacturer	Rheinmetall Air Defence, Oerlikon Contraves
Specifications
Mass	Gun: 450 kg Installation: 3300 kg
Length	5.5 m
Width	2.39 m
Height	1.94 m
Crew	unmanned
Shell	35×228mm
Caliber	35 mm
Barrels	Singular
Action	Gas-operated four-chamber revolver cannon[1]
Elevation	-15 / +85 degrees rate: 70 degree/s
Traverse	360 degrees rate: 120 degrees per second
Rate of fire	Single shot Rapid Single Shot: 200 rounds per minute Burst (automatic fire): 1000 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	AHEAD: 1,050 m/s (3,400 ft/s) HEI: 1,175 m/s (3,850 ft/s) APDS/T: 1,440 m/s (4,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range	3,500–5,000 m (3,800–5,500 yd)[2]
Feed system	252 linkless rounds in installation

Description

A device at the muzzle end of the barrel measures the exact speed of each round as it is fired, and automatically sets the fuse to detonate the round as it approaches a pre-set distance from the target. Each round disperses 152 small tungsten projectiles^[3][4] weighing 3.3 grams (0.12 oz) each to form a lethal cone-shaped cloud to strike the incoming target.^[2] Whilst these are too small to do major damage in themselves, the accumulation of damage from multiple strikes is expected to destroy wings and control surfaces, sensors and aerodynamics, causing the target to crash. Other firing modes are designed to be effective against surface targets such as small fast attack boats.

The weapon is designed to be controlled by an external fire-control system using either radar or electro-optical trackers. It is fitted with an optional onboard observation TV camera which relays imagery to an operator console from which it can also be aimed and fired in an emergency mode. The computer system uses an open architecture and is claimed to be compatible with many existing fire control systems.

The gun's ammunition capacity allows it to engage 10 anti-ship missiles or 20 surface targets.^[2]

Users

 Denmark

• Absalon-class frigate
• Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate

 Indonesia

• Martadinata-class frigate

 Venezuela

• Guaiquerí-class patrol boat
• Guaicamacuto-class patrol boat

Future Users

 Bulgaria

• The Bulgarian Navy's new corvettes (MMPV 90) are planned to be armed with the Millennium gun

 Indonesia

• Type 31 frigate (Planned)
• Raja Haji Fisabilillah class (Planned)

 Saudi Arabia

• Al Jubail-class corvette

 Colombia

• Sigma-class design^[5][6]

See also

• Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30 mm
• Nächstbereichschutzsystem MANTIS - ground-based C-RAM by Rheinmetall using same gun
• Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon - earlier system using AHEAD rounds
• Aselsan Gökdeniz - comparable Turkish system
• Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun - comparable South African CIWS
• OSU-35K - comparable Polish system