Cockerill Weapon systems - Which ones, what weapons and what ammunitions

Machinery of War Discussion
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64

Here’s a table to compare the most mass-produced versions of Cockerill turrets.

Turret Model Main Armament / Compatible Calibers Calibre (mm) Elevation / Traverse / Stabilization Crew / Operation Armor / Protection Fire Control / Sensors Autoloader Capacity Notes
C-series (C25 & C30) Oerlikon KBA 25 mm (C25), Oerlikon KBB 25 mm (C25), Mauser 30 mm (C30); adaptable for 20–40 mm autocannons 25–30 High-speed electro-mechanical power drives; stabilization available Single or two-man turret Not specified Standard day/night sights; stabilization optional Manual / Not applicable Can be integrated on tracked or wheeled vehicles; versatile modular design for multiple calibers
CPWS20/25/30 20–30 mm autocannons (ATK M242, Nexter, Oerlikon KBA/M230LF); 7.62 mm coaxial MG 20–30 –10° to +60°; 360° traverse; stabilized Remote-operated Ballistically enclosed; lightweight High-performance stabilized day/night sight; panoramic 360° view; digital ballistic computer 150 rounds Designed for 4×4 AFVs; unmanned; crew operates from within the vehicle; modular design for various calibers
CPWS Gen 2 25–30 mm autocannons 25–30 Not specified Remote-operated Armored station; protects crew Stabilized thermal day/night sight; ballistic computer Manual / Not applicable High mobility; compatible with troop/cargo vehicles
1030 30×173 mm chain gun (Mk44S) 30 –10° to +70°; stabilized Remote weapon station (1–2 crew) Composite/aluminium; optional STANAG L2–L4 Digital vision systems; modular integration of AT missiles, APS, sensors 200 rounds Lightweight (< 1.5 t); UAV and counter-UAS capability
3030 CRADA XM813 30 mm chain gun 30 –10° to +60°; dual-axis stabilized Two-man turret Up to STANAG Level 5; modular armor Dual-axis stabilized day/night sights; 360° external cameras; optional ATGM integration 255 rounds Developed under US Army ARDEC CRADA; modular design supports 30–105 mm calibers
Cockerill 3000 Series (3030/3035) 30 mm / 35 mm autocannons; ATGMs 30–35 –10° to +42°; 360° traverse; stabilized Two-man, modular turret STANAG Level 4–5 depending on config Digital day/night FCS; hunter-killer capability; modular for 30–35 mm armament Varies by calibre Modular design; supports medium-calibre autocannons, 105 mm HP gun, and missile systems
Cockerill i-X 25–30 mm cannon; ATGMs, rockets; coaxial MG 25–30 –10° to +60°; stabilized Retractable turret; 2-person vehicle Level 2 STANAG ballistic; Level 3 mine 360° EO sights, IR, LRF; AI-assisted targeting; sensor fusion Manual / Not applicable High-speed stealth interceptor; fully digitized; adaptive camouflage
CM 90 90 mm low-pressure gun (Mk3) 90 Not specified Two-person turret Low weight; for vehicles ~7 t Electro-mechanical drive; day/night FCS Manual / Not applicable Precursor to CSE 90LP; adaptable for light vehicles
CSE 90 90 mm low-pressure gun 90 Not specified Two-person turret Lightweight; adaptable to many vehicle types Day/night optical sight; mechanical or electric drives Manual / Not applicable Earlier design preceding modernized CSE 90LP
CSE 90LP (modern) Smoothbore 90 mm Cockerill Mk 3MA-1 or Mk. 7 90 –8° to +15°; 360° traverse; stabilized Two-man, low-profile turret STANAG Level 1–4 Electro-mechanical, digital day/night FCS Not specified Compact, rugged, versatile; 7–15 t vehicles; HE, APFSDS-T, Canister
LCTS 90MP Smoothbore 90 mm Cockerill Mk. 7 & Mk. 8 90 –8° to +15°; 360° traverse; stabilized Two-man, low-profile turret STANAG Level 1–4 Advanced digital, day/night FCS Yes Lightweight, high lethality; HE, APFSDS-T, Canister; 10–20 t vehicles
CT-CV 105HP Rifled Cockerill 105 mm CV; Falarick ATGM compatible 105 –10° to +42°; 360° traverse; stabilized Two-man turret STANAG Level 4 Advanced digital, day/night FCS 12–15 rounds High lethality, guided missile capable; 20–30 t vehicles; NATO standard, smart, guided munitions
XC-8-105 105 mm HP; Falarick GLATGM 105–120 Not specified Two-person turret with autoloader Lightweight concept Fully stabilized digital FCS 16 rounds Modular concept turret for medium tanks/AFVs
Cockerill 3105 105 mm high-pressure gun + optional MGs/AGL/AT systems 105 –10° to +42°; stabilized Two-person turret with autoloader STANAG 4569 Level 5 (base) Dual-axis sights, hunter-killer capability, 360° cameras, APS, acoustic detection 12–16 rounds Modular; lighter than standard MBT turrets; adaptable to multiple platforms
XC-8-120 120 mm smoothbore + GLATGM 120 Not specified Two-person turret Lightweight concept Fully stabilized digital FCS 12 rounds Evolution of XC-8 for 120 mm armament

I’ll maybe add the others here later. We’ll see.

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Addition of a comparison table to easily compare Cockerill-made guns

The Mk V isn’t included, as there is no information on its existence.

Variant Era (approx.) Pressure Class Barrel Length Recoil Stroke APFSDS Capable? Typical Turrets / Platforms Notable Features / Differences
90 mm Cockerill Mk I 1960s–early 1970s Low — 300 mm No Early light vehicle turrets First Cockerill 90 mm; basic HEAT/HESH low-pressure gun.
90 mm Cockerill Mk II early–mid 1970s Low — 500 mm No Light AFV turrets, tank upgrades Revised recoil mech to reduce trunnion force.
90 mm Cockerill Mk III 1970s–80s Low ≈ 3.25 m (L/36) — No (baseline) Light turrets, export AFVs Triple-baffle brake; softened recoil; recocking breech.
90 mm Cockerill Mk III A-1 mid-1980s Low ≈ 3.25 m (L/36) 300 mm Yes CM-90 / CSE-90 turrets Single-baffle brake; APFSDS-capable.
90 mm Cockerill Mk III A-2 1980s Low — — Unclear Same as A-1 Minor internal update; sparse public data.
90 mm Cockerill Mk IV A-1 late 1970s–80s Low/Medium L/50 — No M41 Bulldog (Uruguay) upgrades Longer barrel; concentric fume extractor near muzzle.
90 mm Cockerill Mk IV A-2 1980s Low/Medium L/50 — No M41 upgrades (Thailand) Customer-specific tweaks; same Mk IV architecture.
90 mm Cockerill Mk IV A-3 1980s Low/Medium L/50 — No AMX-13 regun, M41 upgrades As A-2 with minor internal differences.
90 mm Cockerill Mk VI late 1980s Low/Medium — — Unclear Transitional model Bridge between Mk IV and Mk VII.
90 mm Cockerill Mk VII late 1980s Low/Medium ≈ 4.365 m (L/48.5) 350–370 mm Yes (with single-baffle brake) Limited fielding; eclipsed by Mk 8 Refined rifling/recoil; optional single-baffle brake.
90 mm Cockerill Mk 8 / 90 MP 1990s–present Medium L/48.5 350–370 mm Yes LCTS 90MP turret Modern medium-pressure 90 mm; low recoil; autoloader.
90 mm Cockerill CSE 90 LP 1990s–present Low 3.25 m (L/36) — (hydro-spring) No CSE 90LP turret Lightweight LP gun; indirect fire to ~6 km.
105 mm Cockerill CV (CT-CV 105HP) 2000s–present High ≈ 5.55 m (L/51) <150 kN recoil force Yes (plus GLATGM) CT-CV 105HP turret, XC-8 turret, Cockerill 3000 series turret Autoloader, high elevation; missile option; indirect fire to ~10 km.
120 mm Cockerill HP (XC-8 turret) 2010s–present High — — Yes (plus GLATGM) XC-8 turret, medium tanks 120 mm smoothbore; high-pressure for medium tank roles.
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CSE 90 addition

Vickers Valkyr:
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Patria 6×6 HAPC (Heavy Armoured Personnel Carrier) with Cockerill CLWS

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Vehicle integration: Tracked or wheeled 4x4 to 8x8 chassis
Turret: Welded aluminium structure
Crew: RWS with one (gunner) or 2 (gunner & commander)
Main armament:
· 25x137 mm gun (M242 (NGC), 25M811 (Nexter),…)
· 30x113 gun (M230LF (NGC), 30M781 (Nexter),…)
· 12.7mm
· Turret launched AT system
Secondary armament: 7.62mm co-ax (Optional), Turret launched AT systems (Optional), Rockets (Optional)
Ammunition loading: Single feeder with 90-120 ammunitions depending gun configuration - Reloading
under protection
Anti-tank capability: LWS, APS,…
Protection: Smoke grenade launchers (Optional)
Sights: Panoramic (360°, stabilized) or coaxial sight (TV/IR/LRF)
Elevation: -10°/+50°
D/R/I: D 8000 / R 4000 / I 2000 (Upgradable in option)
Ballistic protection: Up to level 2 STANAG 4569

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I have few missing pieces you could add to the list.

Tulpar (1030) FEINDEF 2023
Tulpar (Cockerill 1030) - 1

Kaplan HT (XC-8) İDEF 2017 Prototype

Kaplan Light Tank (XC-8) - 4
Kaplan Light Tank (XC-8) - 42476×1400 514 KB

ZMA-19 (CSE 90LP)
ACV-19 CSE 90LP - 3

Akrep IId (CSE 90LP)

Akrep IId (CSE 90LP) - 1
Akrep IId (CSE 90LP) - 12000×1333 349 KB

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I hope they keep developping on the i-X

because this thing with its 200 kph top speed and its +200 HP/T looks like a real menace

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new addition

Stormer C25 with 25mm Oerlikon

GBR-Stormer_C25_Oerlikon

Simbas CM 90

(in the background)
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Valkyr with Cockerill 90 mm and 25 mm

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Not sure if this is just the gun or full turret, but came across this:

“Cougar WFSV”
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Claims it using the 90mm Cockrill Mk.1

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I’m not an expert with Canadian prototypes, but because of the muzzle flash it’s hard to determine if this is a 90 mm or a 76 mm.

Janes has this to say:

CANADA

Light Armored Vehicle

Between 1979 and 1983 the Diesel Division of General Motors Canada built a total of 419 Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (AVGP) for the Canadian Armed Forces. These were based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha (6 X 6) design and built in three versions:

  • Cougar 76 mm Wheeled Fire Support Vehicle (WFSV)
  • Grizzly Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier (WAPC)
  • Husky Wheeled Maintenance and Recovery Vehicle (WMRV)

Following a competition with vehicles submitted by Alvis (Scorpion 90 and Stormer), Cadillac Gage (Command V-300 and V-150) and General Motors Canada (WFSV) the US Marine Corps selected the General Motors Canada in an 8x8 configuration to meet its requirement for a Light Armored Vehicle (LAV). The US Marine Corps has a requirement for 289 vehicles while the US Army has a requirement for 680 vehicles, subject to Congressional action and changes in requirements.

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Source: Janes Light Tanks And Armoured Cars : Foss Cristopher : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

I have not yet come across Cockerill papers that mentioned the cougar, but for these time periods it’s definitely possible.

Even more, the gun could look like the 76 mm:

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Source: Jane's Armoured Fighting Vehicle Retrofit Systems 1993 94 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

But it would certainly be possible, as this is an ALVIS 76 mm turret, the exact one which was used in the scorpion 90 programs and many more where the 90 mm was used!

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The 76mm gun likely refers to the production gun it had, as it used the Scorpion turret with the L23A1 gun.
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However, it being the Scorpion 90 turret could be the case, after all, it already used a different Scorpion turret.

This is all else I could find, on the one I posted originally:
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New Franco-Belgian project

Arquus Scarabee CLWS (Cockerill Light Weapon System)

french-blegian-upcoming-new-gen-light-armored-vehicule-by-v0-xzcajt6qg8ef1
french-blegian-upcoming-new-gen-light-armored-vehicule-by-v0-xzcajt6qg8ef11080×1260 235 KB

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NUTS - Bastogne 2025 new reveals!

MOWAG Piranha IIIC 3030

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A Belgian army Piranha IIIC with a John Cockerill 3030 turret.

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Not a Cockerill turret, but these three vehicles have the Cockerill Mk. III in the French Lynx 90 (/ D 90) turret:

VBC 90 Lynx

  • VBC 90 (French)

ERC 90 Lynx Cockerill

  • ERC 90 (French)

VEC 90 Lynx
VEC 90 Lynx2066×1448 417 KB

  • VEC 90 (Spanish)

Maybe more were tested with this turret, but I haven’t found them yet. Sometimes seen this referred to as the Lynx 90/75 turret, to indicate the modularity of the gun.

(Working on suggestions for them)

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Cockerill is possibly developing a 105 mm gun for the EBRC Jaguar platform

https://fixupx.com/jeff21461/status/2011824256900800773?s=46

🇧🇪🇫🇷 Jean-Luc Maurange, CEO of John Cockerill, stated to Les Echos that the company is developing a “relatively powerful gun (105 mm) for the Jaguar armoured vehicle”.

Source: https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/air-defense/7000-camions-blindes-pour-2-milliards-deuros-larmee-francaise-va-enfin-mettre-ses-vieux-renault-au-garage-2209610

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The man hopes that the good cooperation between France and Belgium in the field of armored vehicles will continue with the definition of a new small joint armored vehicle and the development of a relatively powerful gun (105 mm) for the Jaguar armored vehicle.

The actual quote in the article so it’s slightly different and not guaranteed.

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Title changed accordingly.

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81

Another entry to the list: K21-105

(The K21, but this time with a 3105 turret instead)

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The full lineup of turrets taking part in the demonstration including the Cockerill 3105 on the K21, manned and unmanned versions of the 3030 system mounted on AMV and Piranha 8×8 vehicles, Belgian SIBMAS (6×6) with LTCS 90MP, Commando Select (4×4) with CSE 90LP mounted and the CPWS on a Sherpa Light 4×4

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This makes the K21 the only vehicle to trial all Cockerill 105 mm gun turrets!

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Patria AMV 3105

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17737936991343404701424288563690

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Piranha IIIC 3030 FSV

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(Right)