on a
Bristol Blenheim. Single shot test. During
World War II, the German firm
Mauser began development of a radically new 20 mm
autocannon using a motorised firing mechanism in order to improve the
rate of fire. The weapon was designed for 20mm
mine shell rounds (designated the
Mauser MG 213 and for 30mm rounds (the
Mauser MK 213). However, production of the MK 213 never commenced due to development problems such as excessive barrel wear and to the Allied
Combined Bomber Offensive campaign against German industry. At the end of the war only 5 prototypes (V1 to V5) of either 20 mm MG 213 or 30 mm MK 213 had been finished. The new weapon was quickly developed, and production was set up at the
Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield. The name ADEN was created by combining the two first initials of Armament Development Establishment with the first two letters of Enfield, producing ADEN. and the project was cancelled in 1999. The Harrier GR.7 was cleared for emergency use of the ADEN 25, no attempt apparently having been made to retrofit the older ADEN 30 mm pods.
Fleet Air Arm Sea Harriers retained the 30 mm weapon until their retirement in 2006. == Aircraft use ==