DGP-35-2

The DGP-35-2 is a Menghean licensed derivative of the Hallian Oerlikon GDF towed anti-aircraft gun. It consists of two 35mm autocannons, hence the designation, on an electrically powered wheeled mount. The turret can be aimed manually by its crew, or automatically by a separate fire-control center. Menghe purchased a license for the system in 1993, and later developed a series of improved variants, also derived from Hallian GDF derivatives.

Description

All variants of the DGP-35-2 are armed with two 35mm autocannons, each one firing at a rate of 550 rounds per minute. The guns are chambered for the 35×228mm cartridge, and can fire a variety of shell types, including armor-piercing rounds. When manually aimed, the DGP-35-2 is effective against fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs; when linked to a computerized fire-control post and loaded with smart-fused ammunition, it is also able to engage cruise missiles and artillery rockets, and can engage conventional aircraft more effectively. A five-person crew can bring a DGP-35-2 from its towed configuration into a battle-ready state in 90 seconds.

Towed variants

DGP-35-2G

The "G" variant of the DGP-35-2 is a licensed copy of the Oerlikon GDF-003, an early-80s variant. It features an improved anti-aircraft sight, self-lubricating parts, and compatibility with a separate fire-control post, but lacks the Gunking 3D computer-controlled sight and automatic reloading system carried by the GDF-005. It carries a total of 238 rounds: 112 ready to fire (eight 7-round clips in each gun's fixed loading box), and 126 on-mount reloads (eighteen 7-round clips split between the two boxes on the rear of the mount). Consequently, it requires a crew of 3: a single gunner who aims the weapon, and two loaders who move ammunition clips from the reload boxes into the guns' loading boxes. The driver and the co-driver of the tow vehicle, typically a Chŏnsŏ G586, assist in setting up the gun, and may also carry ammunition to it if the tow vehicle is parked nearby.

DGP-35-2N

The "N" variant was originally licensed in the late 1990s to equip self-propelled anti-aircraft guns in the Menghean Army. In place of conventional ammunition boxes, it carries two large ammunition drums in the shape of truncated cones. Each drum contains 25 spaces for 8-round ammunition clips, and with an additional fifteen rounds in each side of the feed system, the total ready ammunition capacity is 430 rounds. The drums are reloaded by removing their outside circular covers.

The designation DGP-35-2N refers to a towed, deployable version of this system, introduced in 2006. In addition to the novel drum layout, it introduces an improved fire-control system: each turret has a short-range search radar, a fire-control radar, and a digital fire-control system. The DGP-35-2N is also compatible with AHEAD smart-fused projectiles, which detonate in front of the target and release 152 tungsten submunitions. These combined changes give the DGP-35-2N considerably greater effectiveness against conventional aircraft targets, and also allow it to engage cruise missiles, artillery rockets, and mortar shells when connected to an external fire-control radar. To support the use of smart-fused projectiles, each barrel has a special device at its muzzle to measure the exact velocity of each round and set its fuse accordingly.

Because the DGP-35-2N has more ready rounds than the DGP-35-2G has total rounds, it does not require human loaders. There is also no onboard seat for a gunner; instead, the weapon is remotely aimed from a separate fire-control post. Because of its increased computing and power requirements, the DGP-35-2N sits on a more robust towed mount with added equipment boxes and an onboard generator. It can also be powered by an external electricity source, including the typical fire-control post.

Self-propelled derivatives

Because of its versatility, the DGP-35-2 gun system has been fitted to a variety of armored and unarmored vehicles.

• DGCh-35-2: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on a tank chassis.
• JDGP-35-2: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on the IMCh-J Koppulso medium tracked utility chassis. Unlike the DGCh-35-2, it is slower, less protected, and non-stabilized, but it retains the same basic functionality when stationary.
• BDGP-35-2: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on the Samsan S915 8x8 chassis, with a protected cabin for the three-person crew. Like the JDGP-35-2, it can only fire when stationary, in this case with the help of hydraulic jacks.

Ammunition types

• HEI: High Explosive Incendiary.
  • HEI-T: High Explosive Incendiary (Tracer).
• APDS: Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot.
• AHEAD: Smart-fused anti-aircraft and anti-missile round with 152 submunitions.
• TP: Target Practice.
  • TP-T: Target Practice (Tracer).