40CT cannon

40CTC
40CTC of a British Ajax armoured fighting vehicle
TypeCased telescoped autocannon
Place of origin France
United Kingdom
Service history
In service2022–present
Used byBritish Army
French Armed Forces
Production history
DesignerCTA International
Designed1997–2022
ManufacturerCTA International
Specifications
Mass340 kg (750 lb)
Length3,428 mm (11 ft 3.0 in)
Barrel length2,800 mm (110 in)
Cartridge40×255 mm
Caliber40 mm (1.6 in)
ActionRecoil-operated, rotating breech
Rate of fire200 rpm
Effective firing range2,500 m (8,200 ft) (4,000 m (13,000 ft) for the Thales RapidFire naval CIWS)
Maximum firing range8,500 m (27,900 ft)
Feed systemAutomatic Ammunition Handling System (AHS)

The 40CTC (40 mm Cased Telescoped Cannon) is a 40 mm autocannon and the central component of the Franco-British 40CTAS (40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System) developed by CTA International. It is designed to fire 40mm telescoped ammunition. This format provides significant benefit within vehicles in the space envelope required for the gun and the ammunition storage. However, the selection of the unfielded, thus unproven, new design for major French and British programmes was controversial.

The 40CTAS has been ordered by the French Army for use on its future EBRC Jaguar armoured reconnaissance vehicle. The latter entered service in February 2022. It has also been mandated for the UK Ajax (formerly FRES SV) and (cancelled) Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) programmes.

In February 2010, CTA International signed a £11m contract with the French and British defence ministries to qualify the 40CT; this included environmental testing and the firing of 15,000 rounds. The company has confirmed that the ammunition for the British weapons will be assembled by BAE Systems at the ROF Glascoed facility.

Design

The 40CTAS cannon consists of multiple modules:

Ammunition

The table below lists the 40CTAS's proprietary 40 mm telescoped ammunition. The various models are produced for various applications.

CTA International granted production licences to:

Model Type Roles Image Ammunition mass Projectile mass Submunition mass Muzzle velocity Penetration Effective range Notes
Mission ammunition
APFSDS-T Kinetic energy - penetrator (APFSDS type) /
tungsten fin		 Vehicle armour penetration 1,900 grams (67 oz) 550 grams (19 oz) – > 1,500 m/s (4,900 ft/s) 140 mm (5.5 in) RHA at 1,500 m (4,900 ft) > 2,500 m (2,700 yd)
GPR-PD-T
General purpose - point detonation - tracer		 Multi-role /
impact delay fuze ammunition		 Anti-structure /
anti-light AFV /
anti-infantry		 2,400 grams (85 oz) 980 grams (35 oz) – 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) 210 mm (8.3 in) concrete at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) 2,500 m (2,700 yd)
15 mm (0.59 in) RHA at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
GPR-KE-T
General purpose - kinetic energy - tracer		 Inert variant of the GPR-PD-T Low-value targets engagement (improvised structure) – 2,400 grams (85 oz) 980 grams (35 oz) – 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) – 2,500 m (2,700 yd)
GPR-AB-T
General purpose - airburst - tracer		 Muti-role /
airburst above targets fragments		 Anti-infantry /
anti-AFV antennas and electronics		 2,400 grams (85 oz) 980 grams (35 oz) – 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) 210 mm (8.3 in) concrete at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) 2,500 m (2,700 yd)
Fragments can spread over 125 m2 (1,350 ft2).
15 mm (0.59 in) RHA at 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
KE-AB P33
Kinetic energy - airburst		 Kinetic energy - airburst /
tungsten pellets		 Anti-air munition /
anti-infantry /
anti-AFV antennas and electronics		 3,000 grams (110 oz) 1,400 grams (49 oz)
(projectile)
:
 330 grams (12 oz)
(pellets)		 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s) – 3,000 m (3,300 yd)
KE-AB P66
Kinetic energy - airburst		 1,400 grams (49 oz)
(projectile)
:
 660 grams (23 oz)
(pellets)		 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s) – 4,000 m (4,400 yd)
Training ammunition
TP-T
Target practice - tracer		 Standard training round – 2,400 grams (85 oz) 980 grams (35 oz) – 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) – –
TPRR-T
Target practice reduced range - tracer		 Reduced range training round – 1,900 grams (67 oz) 730 grams (26 oz) – 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) – –

Weapon systems equipped with the 40 CT cannon

Current systems

T40 turret - Jaguar EBRC

The turret used by the Jaguar EBRC is the KNDS France T40.

The turret has 65 shells ready-to-fire, and a total of 180 munitions. The turret enables to shoot at angles comprised between -10° to +45°. It has a rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute. The turret is fully stabilised and able to shoot in movement.

The turret is also equipped with a remote weapon station Arquus T3 Hornet S with a FN MAG machine gun. Two ATGM Akeron MP are ready to fire in a pod, and two additional missiles are stored in the vehicles. And it is equipped with a Safran PASEO commander sight, Safran sights, and Thales communication systems.

Ajax turret

The Naval RapidFire was developed by KNDS France in collaboration with Thales.

It is a naval turret based on the 40CTC, intended to be used as a close-in defence weapon system for surface vessels. It is designed to treat both surface and air targets efficiently with its A3B rounds. The A3B rounds releases 660 grams (23 oz) of tungsten pellets that form a cloud of sub-projectiles in front of a target. The suggested method for aerial engagements is to fire at 80 rounds per minute, shooting a 4-round burst at 4,000 m (13,000 ft), then waiting a few seconds for damage assessment before firing another burst. The RapidFire was selected for integration on the 4 Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF) of the French Navy as well as the upcoming class of 10 Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (PH) offshore patrol vessels. The first system was installed on the lead ship the BRF, Jacques Chevallier, in February 2023.

Systems in development

Nexter/Thales Land RapidFire

The Land RapidFire was developed by KNDS France in collaboration with Thales.

It is the land-based variant of the RapidFire and is meant for integration on military vehicles. The turret can store between 70 and 140 rounds, with additional rounds stored in the turret structure's compartment. The rate of fire reaches 200 rpm, and can reach targets at a distance of 2,500 metres (1.6 mi) for surface targets, and 4,000 metres (2.5 mi) for aerial targets. Mock-ups presented by KNDS France show the RapidFire system mounted on 6×6 and 8×8 trucks. The variant presented on the 8×8 truck has the capacity to be dismounted and operated independently.

KNDS France RCT40

It is a turret developed for the VBCI Mk2, a modern IFV. Amongst its advantages, its cannon can reach up to 60° of vertical elevation, which enables it to fight more effectively against loitering munitions.

Lockheed Martin UK

GDLS UK and Lockheed Martin UK unveiled an IFV variant of the Ajax chassis at DSEI 2025. It is equipped with an unmanned turret equipped with the CT40 autocannon.

Users

Current operators

France (300 + 8)
The French Army plans to order a total of 300 EBRC Jaguar, 150 have been ordered at the moment:
  • 20 Jaguar ordered in 2017
  • 42 Jaguar ordered in 2020
  • 88 Jaguar ordered in 2022
The French Navy is using the cannon on one ship family, and is planning to order other ones:
United Kingdom (245)
The British Army ordered 245 Ajax equipped with the 40CTC.

Future operators

Belgium (60)
The Belgian Land Component ordered 60 EBRC Jaguar in 2018 as part of the CaMo cooperation with the French Army. It will succeed to the Piranha III DF30 & DF90.
France (14 + 3 options)
French Navy:
French Air and Space Force:
  • 7 RapidFire Land ordered to protect air fields.
Luxembourg (38)
The intent to procure the SCORPION vehicles, including 38 EBRC Jaguar, was announced in May 2024.
The Luxembourg parliament approved the purchase in November 2024. The contract was signed in December 2025.
Planned for delivery from 2028.

Potential operators

France
Several French Army programmes might lead to the introduction of the 40CTC cannon within the forces beyond the EBRC Jaguar:
  • France is in discussion with Greece regarding the sale of 120 second-hand VBCI IFV as a quick solution for Greece. It is highly likely that France would replace those vehicles with the VBCI-2 and the T40 turret equipped with the 40CTC cannon.
  • A report from French elected official demonstrated a need for a cost-effective SHORAD capability in the French Army. The answer given is the Land RapidFire.
Greece (200)
KNDS and Hellenic Defence Systems partnered in 2022 to offer the VBCI Philoctetes to the Hellenic Army. In 2024, more details regarding the potential sale of VBCI were revealed:
  • 200 VBCI-2 that would be equipped with the T40 turret (40CTC and the Akeron MP ATGM)
  • 50 VBCI-2 in support configurations (sanitary, artillery observation, command)
  • 120 VBCI, second-hand from the French Army for rapid implementation
Ireland
The Irish Army is negotiating for EBRC vehicles.
Kuwait
KNDS and the UK is offering the ARTEC Boxer to the Kuwait Army and the 40CTC with the T40 turret is being offered as a potential weapon.
Qatar
KNDS and the UK is offering the ARTEC Boxer to the Qatar Army equipped with the T40 (turret with 40CTC cannon).
KNDS France also proposed the VBCI-2 equipped with the T40 turret to Qatar. In April 2024, discussions for a first batch of 120 VBCI-2 were ongoing.

Cancelled orders

United Kingdom
The British Army cancelled the modernisation of the Warrior in 2021. A surplus worth £70 million of 40CTC cannons was revealed by the UK MoD following this cancellation. A total of 515 cannon had been ordered by the MoD in 2015. The consequence is that some of those cannons were available for sale, or for other programme. It is unknown whether these were used to supply Belgian and Luxembourg EBRC, or if the MoD kept them for future potential programmes.

Lost bids

Australia
The Australian Army opened a tender process in the Land 400 Phase 2 programme. Nexter offered the VBCI-2 equipped with the T40 turret and 40CTC cannon. The Australian Army shortlisted two of its competitors, the Boxer equipped with the LANCE 30 turret and the Patria AMV equipped with the BAE E35 turret. The Boxer won the programme, 133 in the CRV variant equipped with a LANCE 30 turret using the MK 30-2 [de] cannon.
Bulgaria
Nexter pitched the VBCI-2 with the T40 turret and the Nexter Titus as future vehicles for the Bulgarian Army in 2019. The Stryker won the competition and a contract was signed in 2024. The IFV variant is the M1296 Dragoon which is equipped with the ATK Orbital MK.44S Bushmaster II cannon.
Lithuania
In 2015, Nexter offered the VBCI-2 with the T40 turret or the Leonardo Hitfist to the Lithuanian Army. The Boxer won the competition in 2016 with the sale of 91 "Vilkas" equped with the Samson Mk II RCT turret using the ATK Orbital MK.44S Bushmaster II cannon.
Spain
In 2015, Nexter offered the VBCI-2 with the T40 turret for the new infantry fighting vehicle of the Spanish Army. The Piranha V won the tender process and it is equipped with the Guardian 30 turret with the ATK Orbital MK.44S Bushmaster II cannon.

References

  1. ↑ "Enhanced Lethality & Compact Design — 40 CTAS" (PDF). www.cta-international.com. September 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ "NEXTER Group - CTA International achieves Anglo-French qualification for the 40mm Cased Telescoped Cannon and Ammunition". Archived from the original on 28 May 2019.
  3. ↑ ""CTWS" - Deagel".
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  5. ↑ "New 40mm cannon system handed over to British Army".
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  37. ↑ "Le Luxembourg prêt à investir 2 Md€ dans des véhicules SCORPION". 8 May 2024.
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