VENOM 30 LR: from the Legendary Aircraft Gun to the Basic Armament of the Future Ground and Naval Vehicles
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) made a significant investment in the manufacture of 30x113 mm cannons that are important for naval, land-based, and air platforms alike, by acquiring the British AEI Systems
VENOM 30 LR: from the Legendary Aircraft Gun to the Basic Armament of the Future Ground and Naval Vehicles
Part II
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) made a significant investment in the manufacture of 30x113 mm cannons that are important for naval, land-based, and air platforms alike, by acquiring the British AEI Systems, one of the leading companies in the entire world regarding the production of medium-caliber cannons. With this development that turned a new page in the medium-caliber cannon efforts in Türkiye, the 30x113 mm VENOM 30 LR cannon became a part of the CANiK brand.
In the first part of our series, we focused on the basic specifications of VENOM 30 LR and its development process. In this second part, we will focus on this weapon's current and future usage concepts. In addition, we will touch on the capabilities the weapon system will bring to the Turkish Armed Forces and the armed forces of allied and friendly countries. The need for 30x113 cannons, and the contribution they will make to the development of the Turkish defense and aerospace sector will be understood much better once this part has been read.
A System Standing Ever More Proudly as Platforms and Needs Evolve
The 30x113 mm cannon system we touched on in the first part of our series was brought to life to create a jet aircraft weapon that can be used for both air-air and air-ground engagements. The heavy attack helicopter concept, gaining prominence as the ‘70s raged, paved the way to transform this weapon system into the main armament of another air platform. The main reason for this was the low recoil and heavy firepower of 30x113 mm rounds, tailor-made for the precise designs of airborne platforms as they must carefully balance structural integrity and weight.
As such, the M230 cannon, defined as the Area Weapon System (AWS) of the AH-64 Apache helicopter, entered service, along with 30x113 mm HEDP (high-explosive dual-purpose) and HEI (high-explosive incendiary) ammunition it would use. These ammunition types were developed on the basis of 30x113 mm HE (high-explosive) ammunition already used in aircraft guns, as they offered optimum performance against light armored vehicles, infantry in the open and behind the cover. As a matter of fact, the validity of this idea has been confirmed by the performance of Apache and Airbus (former Eurocopter) Tiger HAP/HAD attack helicopters, which have proven themselves in many armed conflicts since the 1980s.
This ammunition, along with the cannons that fire them, were transferred from the inventory of the air force to the inventory of the army aviation, and then started to be considered as a solution for land vehicles in light of the increasing conventional war risk since the second half of the 2010s. Indeed, ground combat has become more destructive in recent years in parallel with the developing technologies and increasing capabilities, creating a demand for light weight, low-recoil and high-firepower cannons to be used on various land platforms. As such, 30x113 mm cannons are seen more often as time passes, to support or replace some of the legacy weapons that have been used so far, on the battlefields. These automatic cannon systems, previously considered a unique solution for fixed- and rotary-wing air platforms, are now considered the future weapon - at least until laser weaponry is widespread - on manned and unmanned ground vehicles.
VENOM 30 LR: An Ideal Solution for Turrets
Indeed, the exceptional dimensions, weight and recoil of the guns in this caliber, combined with the capabilities of new ammunition technologies on the one hand and the miniaturization and increased precision of remote weapon stations on the other, make these weapons an ideal solution for ever-shrinking remote-controlled weapon systems (RCWS). The capabilities of new ammunition technologies combined with said RCWSs bring about a further transformation of the battlefield once more. In this process, the cannon systems using 30x113 mm ammunition will complement the venerable .50 caliber HMG and 40mm automatic grenade launcher combination, the backbone of firepower given to mechanized and light infantry units (including special forces), or perhaps even completely replace it.
Thus, in the early 2010s, the Flyer 72 vehicles, developed as a part of the GMV 1.1 project which aims to acquire a new ground vehicle for United States Special Forces, were armed with an M230LF cannon system to provide the required firepower. Subsequently, the United States Army developed the M-SHORAD (Maneuver Short Range Air Defense) configuration of Stryker 8x8 vehicles, armed it with the 30x113mm M230 LF (XM914E1) cannons along with different guided missiles, due to the need for close air defense brought about by the widespread use of drones, loitering ammunition and helicopters at the tactical level (as seen in the conflicts in Ukraine since 2014).
A similar configuration is used by MADIS (Marine Air Defense Integrated System Increment 1) 4x4 JTLVs of the United States Marine Corps. In this context, General Dynamics has developed an effective HEP (high-explosive proximity) ammunition with a proximity fuse, using the volumetric advantages offered by the dimensions of a 30x113 mm ammunition. Studies on the development of similar proximity-fused ammunition are carried out by Nexter in Europe. As such, a new option is added to the existing ammunition choices for 30x113 mm cannons, such as HEI, SAPHEI (semi-armor piercing high explosive incendiary) and HEDP, with a focus on air defense roles.
A Weapon System Shaped by Battlefield Experience
The modern conventional warfare environment, as evidenced by the Russian aggression on Ukraine, highlighted the intense firepower needs of special forces, reconnaissance elements, and light infantry units.C onsequently, there has been ever-increasing demands to arm APCs and reconnaissance vehicles with more effective weapon systems than machine guns and grenade launchers, resulting in many land platform producers utilizing and experimenting with 30x113 mm cannon and turret systems on their vehicles more and more in the last few years.
Moreover, still, in light of the experiences gained in the war in Ukraine, the first concepts of the new generation tanks, Abrams X and E-MBT, have been designed with a 30x113 RCWS for the hemispherical close-in defense of the tank against land and air targets.
Furthermore, in recent years, armed UGV concepts to provide the required firepower to light infantry units emerged.These concepts are thought to offer adequate direct-fire firepower, even in places conventional armored vehicles cannot enter. One of the best examples of this is KAPGAN UGV, developed by HAVELSAN as a part of the Digital Troops Concept. KAPGAN utilizes VENOM LR 30 30x113 mm cannon from SYS subsidiary AEI Systems and TRAKON 30 RCWS from another SYS subsidiary, UNIROBOTICS, and the UGV is currently undergoing intense testing and evaluation processes.
Complete Cannon and RCWS Solution: VENOM 30 LR and TRAKON 30 RCWS
There is only a very limited number of 30mm low recoil auto cannons (only 3 models to be precise) that can provide the armed forces with these new capabilities. The VENOM LR 30 revolver cannon from CANiK is one of these solutions, making SYS the correct address for potential users that may want to procure TRAKON 30 RCWS along with VENOM 30 LR cannon as a complete system from one source.
It will be interesting to watch how the new capabilities these 30x113mm systems provide will be used on different manned and unmanned vehicles. The experience gained by the Turkish defense and aerospace industry, quickly adapting its products to battlefield realities, is worth considering, as it will provide a different data set than the experiences of the United States Armed Forces.
Part II
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) made a significant investment in the manufacture of 30x113 mm cannons that are important for naval, land-based, and air platforms alike, by acquiring the British AEI Systems, one of the leading companies in the entire world regarding the production of medium-caliber cannons. With this development that turned a new page in the medium-caliber cannon efforts in Türkiye, the 30x113 mm VENOM 30 LR cannon became a part of the CANiK brand.
In the first part of our series, we focused on the basic specifications of VENOM 30 LR and its development process. In this second part, we will focus on this weapon's current and future usage concepts. In addition, we will touch on the capabilities the weapon system will bring to the Turkish Armed Forces and the armed forces of allied and friendly countries. The need for 30x113 cannons, and the contribution they will make to the development of the Turkish defense and aerospace sector will be understood much better once this part has been read.
A System Standing Ever More Proudly as Platforms and Needs Evolve
The 30x113 mm cannon system we touched on in the first part of our series was brought to life to create a jet aircraft weapon that can be used for both air-air and air-ground engagements. The heavy attack helicopter concept, gaining prominence as the ‘70s raged, paved the way to transform this weapon system into the main armament of another air platform. The main reason for this was the low recoil and heavy firepower of 30x113 mm rounds, tailor-made for the precise designs of airborne platforms as they must carefully balance structural integrity and weight.
As such, the M230 cannon, defined as the Area Weapon System (AWS) of the AH-64 Apache helicopter, entered service, along with 30x113 mm HEDP (high-explosive dual-purpose) and HEI (high-explosive incendiary) ammunition it would use. These ammunition types were developed on the basis of 30x113 mm HE (high-explosive) ammunition already used in aircraft guns, as they offered optimum performance against light armored vehicles, infantry in the open and behind the cover. As a matter of fact, the validity of this idea has been confirmed by the performance of Apache and Airbus (former Eurocopter) Tiger HAP/HAD attack helicopters, which have proven themselves in many armed conflicts since the 1980s.
This ammunition, along with the cannons that fire them, were transferred from the inventory of the air force to the inventory of the army aviation, and then started to be considered as a solution for land vehicles in light of the increasing conventional war risk since the second half of the 2010s. Indeed, ground combat has become more destructive in recent years in parallel with the developing technologies and increasing capabilities, creating a demand for light weight, low-recoil and high-firepower cannons to be used on various land platforms. As such, 30x113 mm cannons are seen more often as time passes, to support or replace some of the legacy weapons that have been used so far, on the battlefields. These automatic cannon systems, previously considered a unique solution for fixed- and rotary-wing air platforms, are now considered the future weapon - at least until laser weaponry is widespread - on manned and unmanned ground vehicles.
VENOM 30 LR: An Ideal Solution for Turrets
Indeed, the exceptional dimensions, weight and recoil of the guns in this caliber, combined with the capabilities of new ammunition technologies on the one hand and the miniaturization and increased precision of remote weapon stations on the other, make these weapons an ideal solution for ever-shrinking remote-controlled weapon systems (RCWS). The capabilities of new ammunition technologies combined with said RCWSs bring about a further transformation of the battlefield once more. In this process, the cannon systems using 30x113 mm ammunition will complement the venerable .50 caliber HMG and 40mm automatic grenade launcher combination, the backbone of firepower given to mechanized and light infantry units (including special forces), or perhaps even completely replace it.
Thus, in the early 2010s, the Flyer 72 vehicles, developed as a part of the GMV 1.1 project which aims to acquire a new ground vehicle for United States Special Forces, were armed with an M230LF cannon system to provide the required firepower. Subsequently, the United States Army developed the M-SHORAD (Maneuver Short Range Air Defense) configuration of Stryker 8x8 vehicles, armed it with the 30x113mm M230 LF (XM914E1) cannons along with different guided missiles, due to the need for close air defense brought about by the widespread use of drones, loitering ammunition and helicopters at the tactical level (as seen in the conflicts in Ukraine since 2014).
A similar configuration is used by MADIS (Marine Air Defense Integrated System Increment 1) 4x4 JTLVs of the United States Marine Corps. In this context, General Dynamics has developed an effective HEP (high-explosive proximity) ammunition with a proximity fuse, using the volumetric advantages offered by the dimensions of a 30x113 mm ammunition. Studies on the development of similar proximity-fused ammunition are carried out by Nexter in Europe. As such, a new option is added to the existing ammunition choices for 30x113 mm cannons, such as HEI, SAPHEI (semi-armor piercing high explosive incendiary) and HEDP, with a focus on air defense roles.
A Weapon System Shaped by Battlefield Experience
The modern conventional warfare environment, as evidenced by the Russian aggression on Ukraine, highlighted the intense firepower needs of special forces, reconnaissance elements, and light infantry units.C onsequently, there has been ever-increasing demands to arm APCs and reconnaissance vehicles with more effective weapon systems than machine guns and grenade launchers, resulting in many land platform producers utilizing and experimenting with 30x113 mm cannon and turret systems on their vehicles more and more in the last few years.
Moreover, still, in light of the experiences gained in the war in Ukraine, the first concepts of the new generation tanks, Abrams X and E-MBT, have been designed with a 30x113 RCWS for the hemispherical close-in defense of the tank against land and air targets.
Furthermore, in recent years, armed UGV concepts to provide the required firepower to light infantry units emerged.These concepts are thought to offer adequate direct-fire firepower, even in places conventional armored vehicles cannot enter. One of the best examples of this is KAPGAN UGV, developed by HAVELSAN as a part of the Digital Troops Concept. KAPGAN utilizes VENOM LR 30 30x113 mm cannon from SYS subsidiary AEI Systems and TRAKON 30 RCWS from another SYS subsidiary, UNIROBOTICS, and the UGV is currently undergoing intense testing and evaluation processes.
Complete Cannon and RCWS Solution: VENOM 30 LR and TRAKON 30 RCWS
There is only a very limited number of 30mm low recoil auto cannons (only 3 models to be precise) that can provide the armed forces with these new capabilities. The VENOM LR 30 revolver cannon from CANiK is one of these solutions, making SYS the correct address for potential users that may want to procure TRAKON 30 RCWS along with VENOM 30 LR cannon as a complete system from one source.
It will be interesting to watch how the new capabilities these 30x113mm systems provide will be used on different manned and unmanned vehicles. The experience gained by the Turkish defense and aerospace industry, quickly adapting its products to battlefield realities, is worth considering, as it will provide a different data set than the experiences of the United States Armed Forces.
