Boeing

Three of the world's leading producers of automatic cannons and ammunition have teamed to offer Boeing and Lockheed Martin an innovative 27mm aircraft cannon system as a candidate for use on the next-generation Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft.

The Boeing Company, Mauser-Werke Oberndorf of Germany and Primex Technologies, Inc. have signed a teaming agreement to jointly produce the advanced gun system, which would provide accurate, reliable, effective standoff firepower. The 27mm aircraft cannon is one of several guns being considered for the multi-role JSF.

Separately, Boeing is competing against Lockheed Martin for the JSF production program, which is expected to produce nearly 3,000 aircraft over the next two decades. The JSF competition is expected to be completed in 2001.

If chosen for the JSF by either contractor, Boeing would build 27mm cannons at its Mesa, Ariz., production facility under license and in cooperation with Mauser. Primex Technologies, which would produce existing rounds under license, is developing a new high-explosive, dual-purpose cartridge that would improve the overall effectiveness of the 27mm gun system.

The 27mm cannon is a gas-operated automatic revolver gun based on the Mauser BK 27 cannon used by NATO and Allied forces. Variants of the 27mm aircraft cannon are used in the SAAB-British Aerospace Gripen and have been selected for multi-national Eurofighter 2000 multi-role combat aircraft.

The proven 27mm aircraft gun system offers an advanced, affordable and low-risk solution for JSF and other applications.

The next-generation JSF combat aircraft will replace F-16 and A-10 aircraft flown by the U.S. Air Force; older F/A-18 and AV-8 aircraft operated by the U.S. Marine Corps; F-14 and older F/A-18 fighters flown by the U.S. Navy; and Sea Harriers flown by the United Kingdom.

Boeing and Mauser both have long traditions of ordnance system production. Boeing produces the combat-proven family of Chain Gun® automatic cannons for a variety of air, land and sea applications. Mauser also produces a wide range of medium- and large-caliber cannons for air, land and sea applications.

Primex Technologies, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., is a world-leading defense and aerospace company with core businesses in munitions, propellants, satellite propulsion systems and electronic products.

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