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CTA International

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British Ajax fighting vehicle

CTA International is an equal-shares joint venture company between defence companies Nexter and BAE Systems. CTAI is based in Bourges, France and has been established to develop and manufacture case telescoped weapons and ammunition. The company name is an acronym for Case Telescoped Ammunition.[1] Its main product is a 40mm cannon for light armoured vehicles.

Timeline

  • 1994 - CTAI was created by (at that time) GIAT and Royal Ordnance, with initial activities around a 45mm solution
  • 1997 - the 40mm calibre solution is selected
  • 1999 - The UK MoD Operational Analysis (OA) study output is shared with US DoD; the solution is integrated into Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the US-UK Tracer prototype vehicle
  • 2002 - Further UK MoD & DGA OA studies; risk reduction contract awarded
  • 2004 - UK MoD & DGA contract to integrate 40CT into the MTIP and unmanned Toutatis turrets
  • March 2008 - UK MoD select CT40 as a mandated item for Warrior IFV and FRES-Scout (now Ajax) programmes[2]

CTAS40 cannon

CTAS40
TypeCase-telescoped autocannon
Place of origin France
 United Kingdom
Service history
In serviceSpeculated 2018
Used byFrench Armed Forces British Armed Forces
Production history
DesignerCTA International
Designed1997
ManufacturerCTA International
Produced1999
Specifications
Mass340 kg
Length3428 mm
Barrel length2800 mm

Cartridge40×255MM Case Telescoped
Cartridge weight2.2kg(HE-Airburst-T) 1.8kg(APFSDS-T)
Caliber70 Caliber
ActionAutocannon
Rate of fire180-200 rds/min
Muzzle velocity1000 m/s HE-Airburst-T 1640 m/s APFSDS-T
Effective firing range2500 m
Maximum firing range5000 m [citation needed]
Feed systemManual

The CTAS40 Case Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) cannon is designed to fire 40mm telescoped ammunition.[3] This format provides significant ergonomic benefits within vehicles in the space envelope required for the gun and the ammunition storage.[4] However, the selection of the unfielded new design for major programmes has been controversial.[5][6]

The CT40 40mm cannon has been ordered by the French Army for use on its future armored reconnaissance vehicle EBRC Jaguar. It has also been mandated for the UK Ajax (formerly FRES SV) and Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) programmes.

In February 2010 CTAI signed a £11m contract with the French and British defence ministries to qualify the CTWS, including environmental testing and the firing of 15,000 rounds.[7]

The company has confirmed that the ammunition for the British weapons will be assembled at BAE Systems' ROF Glascoed facility.[8]

Users

References

  1. ^ "CTA International Secures New Contract From UK MOD" - BAE Systems
  2. ^ http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2009gunmissile/7961leslie.pdf Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine CTAI presentation at conference - April 2009
  3. ^ "NEXTER Group - CTA International achieves Anglo-French qualification for the 40mm Cased Telescoped Cannon and Ammunition".
  4. ^ "CTWS" - Deagel
  5. ^ "The 40mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS)".
  6. ^ "New 40mm cannon system handed over to British Army".
  7. ^ "WCSP: Britain’s Warriors to Undergo Mid-Life Upgrade" - Defense Industry Daily
  8. ^ DefenceNews France, U.K. To Qualify New Cannon