The first 55 guns have been contracted for, so the RAF will have to take them. In any case, the gun is apparently regarded as a ‘safety critical’ item, which means that it has to be carried. So it may be necessary for all RAF Typhoons to carry one, unless an alternative can be approved.

At present, it is not proposed to purchase the ammunition (which is slightly different from the gun in the Tornado as it uses a linkless feed) or to operate or maintain the gun. This might change rather quickly if the RAF identifies an urgent operational need…

There is enough ammo for 4-4.5 seconds firing, or eight or nine half-second bursts, each of 14 rounds weighing a total of 3.6 kg. Guns are much less important than they used to be, but they still have a wide range of secondary and backup uses. I understand that there was at least one Tornado strafing gun attack in Iraq earlier this year.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

Originally posted by Tony Williams
Well, I’ve managed to get hold of a copy and read it with care. There is a month-by-month development diary including details of all contracts issued. The award of a contract to GD to develop the installation of the BK 27 last November is there alright, but no mention of the subsequent report that GD was proposing to replace this with their own GAU-12/U on cost grounds.

So I’ve got sources with connections in the industry telling me that it is definitely true that the BK 27 has been dumped, but I can’t get any confirmation in writing! Very strange…

OK, I’ve checked and it’s now on the GD website – they have indeed won their battle to use their GAU-12/U. AFAIK it will in the form of a conformal pod which may be fitted or not. Any bets on whether the RAF/RN will bother?

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

It was supposed to have a variant of the Mauser BK27 27mm gun, but about a year ago this was reported to have been swapped for the 25mm GAU-12/U, as used in the AV-8B.

Tony Williams

Lots of people had the idea of aircraft fighting each other, long before WW1. HG Well’s novel ‘The War in the Air’ which described battles between aircraft and airships was published in 1908. Various aircraft were also fitted with MGs before 1914.

If it’s the first aerial combat you’re after, this is from ‘Flying Guns: WW1’ (due out before Christmas):

“The very first aerial combat seems to have taken place in Mexico in 1913, between two US mercenaries flying for different sides in an internal conflict. Both pilots fired pistols at each other until their ammunition ran out, to no effect.”

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion
forum