New 40mm Cannon System Handed Over to British Army
March 21, 2016 | BAE SystemsEstimated reading time: 2 minutes

The first production standard Cased Telescoped Cannon System has been handed over to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) in Bourges, France by CTA International (CTAI) – a 50/50 joint venture company between BAE Systems and Nexter Systems.
It is the first delivery of 515 new 40mm cannons that have been ordered for the British Army for use in the Ajax and Warrior vehicles and incorporates unique technologies that will provide superior firepower.
Developed by specialist engineers from BAE Systems and Nexter Systems, the cannon system uses an innovative design for both the cannon and its ammunition, and is the first completely new cannon system ordered by the MOD since the 1960s. The new cannon fires 40mm Cased Telescoped ammunition, manufactured for the British Army by BAE Systems’ munitions factories in Washington, Tyne and Wear and Glascoed in Wales.
The new ammunition is neatly contained in a straight tube instead of the traditional bullet shape and can deliver a more explosive charge – up to four times the power of the 30mm rounds it replaces. The current types of ammunition developed for the cannon include armour piercing and training rounds – while a new airburst round for engaging light vehicles and infantry spread over a large area, and a point detonating round which can penetrate thick concrete – are currently undergoing qualification. CTAI is also working on an anti-aerial airburst round for airborne targets.
The cannon uses a new rotating breech system, with ammunition loaded at a 90 degree angle to the barrel before being rotated into firing position. Loading the ammunition sideways saves a large amount of space in the vehicle, allowing this to be used to store more ammunition or other equipment. The cannon has been developed and is manufactured by CTAI whose factory is now in full production of the new cannon for the MOD.
Minister of State for Defence Procurement Philip Dunne said: “This next-generation cannon has been developed through close Anglo-French collaboration and adds significantly to the capability of the UK and our NATO allies. The delivery of the first cannon on our Ajax vehicles is another example of how our £178 billion investment in UK Defence is ensuring our Armed Forces have the equipment they need.”
Managing Director of CTAI, Craig Fennell, said: “This is a significant milestone for CTAI and a proud moment to see our cannon being handed over to the British Army. We are the only group in the world who can design and manufacture this type of cannon and ammunition, giving us a unique product for export.”
The handover of the first cannon follows many years of exhaustive testing and qualification, which has proved the effectiveness and reliability of the system.
Testimonial
"We’re proud to call I-Connect007 a trusted partner. Their innovative approach and industry insight made our podcast collaboration a success by connecting us with the right audience and delivering real results."
Julia McCaffrey - NCAB GroupSuggested Items
‘Create your Connections’ – Rehm at productronica 2025 in Munich
10/08/2025 | Rehm Thermal SystemsThe electronics industry is undergoing dynamic transformation: smart production lines, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and sensor technologies dominate current discussions.
ESD Alliance Reports Electronic System Design Industry Posts $5.1 Billion in Revenue in Q2 2025
10/06/2025 | SEMIElectronic System Design (ESD) industry revenue increased 8.6% to $5,089.4 million in the second quarter of 2025 from the $4,685.5 million registered in the second quarter of 2024, the ESD Alliance, a SEMI Technology Community, announced in its latest Electronic Design Market Data (EDMD) report.
Rehm Optimizes Customer Service with a Digital Ticket System
10/02/2025 | Rehm Thermal SystemsKnowledge management and transparency are becoming increasingly important for productivity and quality in customer service.
Compunetics Advances PCB Manufacturing with MicroCraft’s Dual-Ink CraftPix Inkjet Printer
09/30/2025 | MicroCraftMicroCraft, a global leader in advanced PCB testing and digital inkjet printing systems, has completed the installation of its CraftPix C2K6151PT dual-ink inkjet printer at Compunetics, Inc., a premier flex and rigid printed circuit board manufacturer located just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
BAE Systems-built Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and SWFO-L1 Spacecraft Successfully Launch
09/29/2025 | BAE SystemsBAE Systems is celebrating the successful launch of two spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, supporting vital NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) space weather missions.
Copyright © I-Connect007 | IPC Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Log in