Germany / Switzerland
35 mm/1000 KDG Millennium GDM-008
Updated 02 January 2012
Gas-operated revolver cannon with four chambers.  These guns are fitted with triple-coil muzzle velocity gauge and fuze-setter for use with Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) projectiles.  The first two coils are located 3.9 inches (10 cm) apart and measure the exact projectile velocity.  This is then used to calculate the fuze setting so as to achieve the proper flight time.  The third coil then imparts this data to the fuze via a electro-induction system.  The fuze itself is a high-precision timer which detonates the expelling charge at a given distance in front of the target.

Lockheed Martin has become the U.S. licensee to Oerlikon Contraves for sale and manufacture of the gun systems.  The USN performed evaluation testing of this weapon system in 2005, but has decided not to purchase.

On Danish vessels these guns will be controlled by the SaabTech CEROS fire control systems and the Terma Command Management System of the CSS.

The "1000" in the designation is a reference to the rate of fire.   The actual gun barrel length is about 79 calibers.
WNGER_35mm-1000_Millennium_pic.jpg

Prototype 35 mm Naval Gun System (GDM-008) Millennium mounted on Lockheed Martin HSV Sea Slice
Note the triple-coil muzzle velocity gauge and fuze setter
Photograph copyrighted by Oerlikon Contraves AG
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Click here for additional pictures
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Gun Characteristics
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Designation Gun:  Oerlikon 35 mm/1000 KDG
Mounting:  Millennium GDM-008
Ship Class Used On Royal Danish Navy:  Combat Support Ship Absalom
Date Of Design about 1995
Date In Service 2003
Gun Weight 992 lbs. (450 kg)
Gun Length oa 161.8 in (4.110 m)
Bore Length 108.9 in (2.766 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves 24
Lands N/A
Twist RH Progressive
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire 1,000 rounds per minute cyclic
Note:  Weapon may be set to fire single shots, 200 rounds per minute or 1,000 rounds per minute.
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Ammunition
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Type Fixed
Weight of Complete Round AHEAD:  3.90 lbs. (1.77 kg)
HEI:  3.48 lbs. (1.58 kg)
APDS-T:  3.19 lbs. (1.445 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights AHEAD:  1.65 lbs. (0.750 kg)
HEI:  1.21 lbs. (0.55 kg)
APDS-T:  0.84 lbs. (0.38 kg)
Bursting Charge AHEAD:  N/A (uses 152 sub-projectiles of 3.3 gms each)
HEI:  0.25 lbs. (0.112 kg)
APDS-T:  N/A - solid penetrator weighs 0.666 lbs. (0.302 kg)
Projectile Length N/A
Complete Round - AHEAD:  15.23 in (38.7 cm)
Complete Round - HEI:  15.23 in (38.7 cm)
Complete Round - APDS-T:  13.39 in (34.0 cm)
Propellant Charge 0.73 lbs. (0.33 kg) NC 01 T 35 (single based)
Cartridge 35 x 288 mm
Muzzle Velocity AHEAD:  3,445 fps (1,050 mps)
HEI:  3,854 fps (1,175 mps)
APDS-T:  4,724 fps (1,440 mps)
Working Pressure 24.6 tons / in2 (3,875  kg / cm2)
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun
(see Note 2)		 200 - 250 ready rounds on mount
Notes:

1) Tracer for APDS-T burns for 1.6 seconds, approximately equal to 2,190 yards (2,000 m).

2) The manufacturer claims that having 250 rounds on mount is enough for 10 to 20 aircraft engagements.

3) Millennium mountings generally use only AHEAD ammunition.
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Range
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Keep-out Ranges With 1.65 lbs. (0.75 kg) AHEAD Shell
Fighter aircraft/attack helicopters 3,830 yards (3,500 m)
Guided missiles/cruise missiles 2,190 yards (2,000 m)
Anti-radiation and sea-skimmer missiles 1,640 yards (1,500 m)
Notes:

1) Flight time for AHEAD at a muzzle velocity of 3,445 fps (1,050 mps):
   1.05 seconds for 1,090 yards (1,000 m)
   2.34 seconds for 2,190 yards (2,000 m)
   3.98 seconds for 3,280 yards (3,000 m)

2) Flight time for HEI at a muzzle velocity of 3,854 fps (1,175 mps):
   0.96 seconds for 1,090 yards (1,000 m)
   2.18 seconds for 2,190 yards (2,000 m)
   3.80 seconds for 3,280 yards (3,000 m)
   6.06 seconds for 4,370 yards (4,000 m)

3) Flight time for APDS-T at a muzzle velocity of 3,950 fps (1,440 mps):
   0.73 seconds for 1,090 yards (1,000 m)
   1.54 seconds for 2,190 yards (2,000 m)
   2.38 seconds for 3,280 yards (3,000 m)
   3.34 seconds for 4,370 yards (4,000 m)
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Armor Penetration with 0.666 lbs. (0.302 kg) APDS-T Penetrator
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Range Vertical Armor
1,100 yards (1,000 m) 3.5 in (9 cm)
Note:  Assumes 90 degree impact.
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Naval Mount:  Millennium GDM-008
Weight  7,055 lbs. (3,200 kg) including 200 rounds of ammunition
Weight can be between 3.6 and 5.2 tons (3.7 and 5.3 mt) depending upon configuration
Elevation -15 / +85 degrees
Elevation Rate 70 degrees per second maximum
Acceleration 130 degrees per second2
Train 360 degrees
Train Rate 120 degrees per second maximum
Acceleration 160 degrees per second2
Gun recoil 0.79 inch (2.0 cm)
Notes:

1) This mounting operates from 24 Vdc.

2) Naval mounts can be swapped out in about 30 minutes.
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Data from
"Jane's Ammunition Handbook:  Ninth Edition 2000-2001" edited by Terry J. Gander and Charles Q. Cutshaw
"Jane's Armour and Artillery Upgrades 2000-2001" edited by Christopher F. Foss
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"Scaleable Lethality Weapons:  Requirements for Military & Naval Forces" by Andrew A. Bradick, presented at the NDIA 39th Annual Gun & Ammunition Missiles & Rockets Conference & Exhibition
"Oerlikon Ammunition for New Defense Environment" by Allan Buckley, Director Product Management, RWM Schweiz AG, presented at the NDIA 40th Annual Armament Systems:  Guns - Ammunition - Rockets - Missiles Conference & Exhibition
"Effectiveness of Air Burst Munitions" by Pascal Paulissen, TNO Defence, Security and Safety, presented at the NDIA 44th Annual Gun & Ammunition Symposium & Exhibition
"Modular Design of Direct Fire Medium Caliber Gun Systems for Joint Operations" by Mr. Andrew Bradick, Consultant, presented at the NDIA Joint Armaments Conference, Exhibition & Firing Demonstration, May 2010
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Lockheed Martin Press Releases
 Oerlikon Contraves AG Press Releases
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Special help from Matthew Rodchenko

Page History

22 October 2008 - Benchmark
03 June 2010 - Added information about selectable firing rates, links to papers presented at NDIA Joint Armament Conference, miscellaneous additions
02 January 2012 - Corrected typographical error, added miscellaneous information