GIAT 30
The GIAT 30 is a series of 30 mm cannon developed to replace the DEFA 550 series weapons on French military aircraft. Introduced in the late 1980s, the GIAT 30 is a revolver cannon with electric ignition and automatic recocking. Unlike the DEFA cannon, the revolver chamber is electrically operated, rather than gas operated, improving both reliability and rate of fire.
GIAT 30
David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- GIAT 30M 791
- Field
- autocannon
- Region
- France
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
The GIAT 30 is a series of 30 mm cannon developed to replace the DEFA 550 series weapons on French military aircraft. Introduced in the late 1980s, the GIAT 30 is a revolver cannon with electric ignition and automatic recocking. Unlike the DEFA cannon, the revolver chamber is electrically operated, rather than gas operated, improving both reliability and rate of fire.
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wikidata · Q1485567 · wikipedia · GIAT 30
In this article
Overview
Overview
Two versions of the GIAT 30 are offered.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — GIAT 30M 791 • Origin — France • Type — Revolver cannon • Is Ranged — yes • Is Bladed — no • Is Explosive — no • Is Artillery — yes • Is Vehicle — no • Is Missile — no • Is Uk — no • Service — 1980s-present • Used By — France • Weight — M 791: 120 kg M 781:65 kg • Length — M 791: 2.4 m M 781:1.875 m • Width — 290 mm • Height — 240 mm • Cartridge — M 791: 30×150mm B M 781: 30×113mm B • Barrels — 1 • Action — Seven-chamber revolver • Rate — M 791: variable anti-aircraft mode 1500 or 2500 rounds/min or grounding mode 300 or 600 rpm M 781: 750 rounds/min • Velocity — 1025 m/s • Illustration — Map with GIAT 30 users. Users of only the 30M 791 are in blue, users of only the 30M 781 are in red, and users of both are in purple.
GIAT 30M 781
GIAT 30M 781
Primarily intended for helicopter use and offered in several fixed, podded, and turreted installations. It is 1.87 m long with a total system weight of 65 kg. It is designed to fire the ADEN/DEFA 30×113mm B rounds. The weight of the projectile varies from 244 g for HEI to 270 g for APHEI-SD. Typical muzzle velocity is 810 m/s with a rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute. Given its considerable recoil, it is typically used for single shots or controlled bursts rather than continuous fire. The 30 M781 is used on the Eurocopter Tiger and is also offered for naval use as part of the NARWHAL (NAval Remote Weapon High Accuracy and Light) system. Ammunition: HEI; SAPHEI; APHEI-SD; API-T; TP.
GIAT 30M 791
GIAT 30M 791
Intended for fighter aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale. It uses a new range of 30×150mm B ammunition in a variety of types. It has a muzzle velocity of 1025 m/s, which amounts to a muzzle energy of more than 94000 ft.lbf from the mass of the projectile alone (not taking into account explosive chemical energy). A variable rate of fire allows cyclic rates of 300, 600, 1500, or 2500 rounds per minute. It can fire continuous bursts or controlled 0.5 or 1 second bursts.
Eurocopter Tiger
Eurocopter Tiger
Operators of the Tiger equipped with the GIAT 30M781: • Australia • France • Spain
Rafale
Rafale
Operators of the Rafale equipped with the GIAT 30M791: • Croatia • Egypt • France • Greece • India • Qatar
Rafale
Rafale
• Indonesia • Serbia • United Arab Emirates
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- France
Named but not plotted · 1
GIAT 30 is associated with France.
Country
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1485567: GIAT 30
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “GIAT 30”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Citations
References
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authority record
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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