120 mm LLR / L47 Tank Gun |
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Due to weight restrictions, airportable weapon platform systems for out-of-area operations have to be equipped with lightweight main armament. A line-of-sight (LOS) 120 mm cal. tank gun can only be integrated into a lightweight platform vehicle if – along with the weight – the recoil force affecting the vehicle during firing is reduced compared with previously fielded standard 120 mm tank guns.
The Rh 120 LLR / L47 meets these requirements, while simultaneously maintaining the internationally agreed interface for 120 mm ammunition. It is thus fully capable of firing contemporary the new 120 mm KE (DM 63) rounds, as well as future HE ammunition equipped with time-adjustable fuses. Thanks to experience gained in the use of advanced materials employed in 140 mm cal. weapon components, Rheinmetall Waffe Munition was able to use heat-treated material for the barrel and breech of the new gun. Together with the newly developed compact breech, the weight of the recoil mass can be reduced by more than 10 percent compared with the standard main gun of the Leopard 2 A4 main battle tank. In the process, the FDP value increased to 700 MPa.
In addition to the longer recoil path – typical in lightweight fighting vehicles – the highly effective muzzle brake reduces the recoil energy (and thus the stress on the vehicle) by some 40 percent. The design of the barrel, recoil mechanism and cradle are based on the results of an in-depth technology study, thus ensuring a high degree of accuracy.
The advent of the Rh 120 LLR / L47 tank gun means that the essential prerequisites have been met for equipping lightweight forces with the latest 120 mm weapon and ammunition technology. The new weapon is manufactured and available. |
Main features |
- Lightweight main armament for armoured vehicles
- Significantly lower recoil
- Can also fire standard 120 mm ammunition
- Long service life
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Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
Heinrich-Ehrhardt-Straße 2
29345 Unterlüss, Germany
Phone: +49 5827 80-01
Fax: +49 5827 10 90
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