CTA International is an equal-shares joint venture

Joint venture

A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...

 company between defence companies Nexter

Nexter

Nexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...

 and BAE Systems

BAE Systems

BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...

. CTAI is based in Bourges

Bourges

Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...

, France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 and has been established to develop and manufacture case telescoped

Telescoped ammunition

Telescoped ammunition is an ammunition design in which the projectile is partly or completely enveloped by the propellant. Examples include ammunition for both hand weapons and artillery.-External links:*http://www.veritay.com/defense/def_ammo.htm...

 weapons and ammunition. The company name is an acronym for Case Telescoped Ammunition.

Timeline

• 1994 - CTAI was created by (at that time) GIAT
  Giat
  Giat is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-Geography:The Chavanon flows southeastward through the south-western part of the commune.-References:*...
  
   and Royal Ordnance
  Royal Ordnance
  Royal Ordnance plc was formed on 2 January 1985 as a public corporation, owning the majority of what until then were the remaining United Kingdom government-owned Royal Ordnance Factories which manufactured explosives, ammunition, small arms including the Lee-Enfield rifle, guns and military...
  
  , with initial activities around a 45mm solution
• 1997 - the 40mm calibre solution is selected
• 1999 - The UK MoD Operational Analysis (OA) study output is shared with US DoD; the solution is integrated into Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the US-UK Tracer prototype vehicle
• 2002 - Further UK MoD & DGA OA studies; risk reduction contract awarded
• 2004 - UK MoD & DGA contract to integrate 40CT into the MTIP and unmanned Toutatis turrets
• March 2008 - CTAI downselected by UK MoD as a mandated item for Warrior IFV and FRES-Scout programmes

CT40 cannon

The CT40 Case Telescoped Weapon System (CTWS) cannon is designed to fire 40mm telescoped ammunition. This format provides significant ergonomic benefits within vehicles in the space envelope required for the gun and the ammunition storage. However, the selection of the unfielded new design for major programmes has been controversial .

The CT40 40mm cannon has been mandated for the UK Future Rapid Effect System

Future Rapid Effect System

The Future Rapid Effect System is the British MOD programme to deliver a fleet of more than 4,000 armoured fighting vehicles for the British Army...

 (FRES) SV and Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) programmes. It has also been ordered by the French Army.

In February 2010 CTAI signed a £11m contract with the French and British defence ministries to qualify the CTWS, including environmental testing and the firing of 15,000 rounds.

The company has confirmed that the ammunition for the British weapons will be assembled at BAE Systems' ROF Glascoed

ROF Glascoed

ROF Glascoed was a UK government-owned, Royal Ordnance Factory. It was designed as one of 20 munitions filling factories. It was planned as a Permanent Royal Ordnance Factory with the intention that, unlike some other similar facilities, it would remain open for production after the end of World...

facility.

External links

• CT-40 test on Warrior programme "Lockheed Test-Fires Proposed Warrior Cannon" - Defense News
• "CTA invests in MTIP2" - Jane's
• "U.K. picks CTA International gun for Warrior IFVs and FRES" - UPI
• "Ultra wins cannon controls contract" - IBTimes
• "BAE Wins Weapons Contracts" - Wall Street Journal
• "New CV-90 configuration" - Defensa