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The ADEN (named for the Armament Development Establishment , where it was designed, and Enfield, where it is produced) was developed in the late 1940s as a replacement for the older Hispano-Suiza HS 404 20mm cannon used in British aircraft of World War Two. It is based (as are the French DEFA and American M39 cannon) on the mechanism of the German Mauser MG213C , an experimental revolver cannon designed for the Luftwaffe, but never used in combat. The ADEN entered service on the Hawker Hunter in 1954, and subsequently used on every British gun-armed aircraft until the advent of the Panavia TornadoThe Panavia Tornado is a jet engine fighter-bomber jointly developed as the Multi-role combat aircraft or MRCA by Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. It first flew on August 14th, 1974. International co-operation continued after its entry into service in the 1980sMillennia: 1st millennium 2nd millennium 3rd millennium Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s Years: 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 Events and trends. It remains in use on the HarrierThe word Harrier when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language. The term "Harrier", when used by itself can refer to: The Harrier vertical take-off and landing fighter aircraft and derivatives; Hawker Siddeley Harrier 1st generati and Sea Harrier.

The current version, the ADEN Mk 4, is 62.6 in (1.59 m) long and weighs 192 lb (87.1 kg) complete. It fires a heavy 7.76 oz (220 g) projectile at a muzzle velocityA gun's muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. This contrasts with the terminal velocity, the speed of the projectile just before it hits its target. Muzzle velocities range from subsonic for some pistols to ove of 2,430 ft/s (741 m/s). Although this is considerably lower than the Hispano's 2,789 ft/s (850 m/s), the substantially heavier projectile makes the ADEN more lethal. Rate of fire is 1,200 to 1,400 rounds per minute. An improved version, the ADEN Mk 5, incorporates a multitude of small changes to improve reliability and increase rate of fire slightly to 1,500-1,700 rounds per minute. No new Mk 5s were built, but many older weapons were converted, being redesignated Mk 5 Straden.

The ADEN Mk 5 became the basis for the planned ADEN 25, which was to be a somewhat larger weapon (90 in / 2.29 m long, 203 lb / 92 kg) firing the new range of NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organisation NATO , sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance is an international organization for defense collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed 25mm ammunition (as in the American GAU-12 EqualizerThe General Electric GAU-12/U Equalizer is a 25 mm, five-barrel Gatling gun. It was developed in the late 1970s, based on the mechanism of the GAU-8/A Avenger cannon, but firing a new NATO series of 25mm ammunition. The GAU-12U cannon is 83. 11 m) long, a) at a much higher muzzle velocity of 3,445 ft/s (1,050 m/s). The lighter ammunition was also to produce a higher rate of fire, 1,650 to 1,850 rounds per minute. Unfortunately, severe development problems plagued the ADEN 25, which proved unable to meet its target weight. It was finally cancelled in 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep, forcing British Harriers and Shars to retain the 30mm weapon.

Aircraft using the ADEN 30 as in-built armament have included the English Electric Lightning, Folland Gnat (and HAL Ajeet ), Hawker Hunter, Gloster Javelin, Saab Lansen, Saab Draken, Supermarine Scimitar, and Australian versions of the F-86 Sabre. Several podded versions exist, including the installations scabbed below the fuselage of British Harrier (and USMC AV-8A/Cs) and Sea Harriers and the Swedish FFV Aden, which is used (among others) on the BAe Hawk. The FFV Aden contains the weapon and 150 rounds of ammunition, is 151.57 in (3.85 m) long, and weighs 802.5 lb (364 kg) fully loaded.

The ADEN is very similar to the French DEFA cannon, and the two weapons use the same range of 30mm ammunition.