The Giat Industries 20 mm M693 (F2) is a dual feed cannon which fires standard 20 x 139 mm ammunition.

It is gas operated and the firing mode can be selected for single shots, bursts or safe. The gas system operates via two vents, one on each side of the barrel, through which the propellant gases can push against two pistons. The gun is locked by two swinging locking devices which act as struts between the gun body and the gun block. On firing, the two gas pistons are driven to the rear, moving the struts backwards and so allowing the breech block to move to the rear. In this way all the firing forces are developed along the barrel centreline to keep accuracy constant.

The M693 has three main assemblies: the basic gun or recoil mass; the cradle; and the fire-control unit. The basic gun includes a 7° rifled barrel made of a special nitrided steel and fitted with a muzzle brake. The feed operates on a ratchet and pawl mechanism rotating two side sprockets which can feed ammunition into the gun from both sides, ejecting the spent cases from the same side as the feed in use. This system allows two types of ammunition to be fed into the gun. A further control switch can select the ammunition feed to be used. The linked rounds are fed into the gun from flexible chutes.

The M693 can be fitted with an electric recocking device including a system to indicate the end of its operation, or a hydraulic recocking device.

This weapon is offered for a number of ground and naval applications.

Production as required. Installed on the AMX-30 MBT (coaxial); Ratel 20 IFV; AMX-10P IFV (Toucan II turret); Panhard ERC (Hispano-Suiza Serval 60/20 turret); Panhard AML (Hispano-Suiza Serval 60/20 turret); Giat Industries CAPRE 20 turret; Giat Industries Toucan I turret; Giat Industries Toucan II turret. Also fitted to Giat Industries Cerbere 20 mm (twin), Tarasque 20 mm (single) towed anti-aircraft guns and Type 53T4 20 mm (twin).