ADEN cannon

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	Weapon: ADEN cannon Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: United Kingdom Year Adopted: 1953 Caliber: 30x113mm Action: Gas Operated Fully Automatic Overall Length (mm): 1639.0 Overall Length (in): 64.53 Weight (kg): 196.00 Weight (pounds): 432.11 Effective Range (m): 1500 m Effective Range (yards): 1640.42

The ADEN cannon (Armament Development Establishment and Enfield, 30mm) is a British revolver-type autocannon developed in the late 1940s, based on the German Mauser MK 213 design. Chambered in 30x111mm ammunition, it uses a five-chamber revolver mechanism driven by a gas-operated piston, allowing it to achieve a high rate of fire between 1,200 and 1,500 rounds per minute. The ADEN was designed to be lightweight and compact, making it ideal for integration into fighter aircraft. Its design prioritized reliability, simplicity, and ease of maintenance in operational conditions.

Production of the ADEN cannon began in the early 1950s and continued into the 1970s, with more than 10,000 units produced. It was primarily manufactured by Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) Enfield and adopted by the Royal Air Force and allied nations. The cannon became the standard armament for many British and Commonwealth aircraft, including the Hawker Hunter, English Electric Lightning, BAC Jet Provost, and later the SEPECAT Jaguar. The ADEN was typically mounted in pairs or groups of four in aircraft gun packs or fuselage stations.

The ADEN cannon served extensively from the 1950s through the Cold War era, providing air-to-air and air-to-ground firepower. Its effectiveness in various conflicts earned it a solid reputation, particularly for its destructive power in short bursts. Despite its success, the cannon's relatively short ammunition belt and recoil were limiting factors in later generations of jet aircraft. It was eventually superseded by the more modern ADEN Mk 5 and the rarely adopted ADEN 25. Nonetheless, the ADEN cannon remains an iconic piece of Cold War aviation armament history.