In order to save less than a million dollars out of the $24 billion Eurofighter procurement program, Britain will delete the ability to carry the 23mm automatic cannon. Eurofighters in other nations will carry the Mauser cannon (3,100 have been built so far.) British defense officials felt the ground support for the gun was too expensive. Britain already has some of the Mauser BK27 23mm guns, but has disabled them. Pilots are not happy with the decision, as cannon is still used for shooting down helicopters and for going after ground targets. The gun fires 28 rounds a second, providing a Eurofighter with some defense against missiles coming straight at it (via a "cloud of 23mm shells").