It was developed in the late 1960s for the MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft) program that ultimately became the Panavia Tornado.

[2] The Mauser BK 27 is used in the Panavia Tornado, the Alpha Jet, the JAS 39 Gripen, and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

[4] The cannon is a single-barrel, high-performance, breech-cylinder gun operated by a fully automatic, electrically fired, gas-operated system at a selective rate of 1000 or 1700 rounds per minute(+/− 100 rpm).

[citation needed] In his book Typhoon, former RAF pilot Mike Sutton reported his 27 mm cannon jamming during a strafing run in Syria, against ISIS targets, while supporting Allied ground units.

According to his book, the Typhoon was to be built, originally, without an internal gun, like the F-4 Phantom and the Harrier.