Designfax weekly eMagazine

Subscribe Today!

Archives

View Archives

Partners

Manufacturing Center
Product Spotlight

Modern Applications News
Metalworking Ideas For
Today's Job Shops

Tooling and Production
Strategies for large
metalworking plants

A military first: Chain gun switches ammo with push of a button

Northrop Grumman's M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun will offer two feed paths that can switch between air burst and high-explosive, dual-purpose ammunition rounds. [Credit: Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman]

 

 

 

 

The next-generation M230 Link Fed (M230LF) Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun from Northrop Grumman offers two ammunition feed paths for the first time for military manned vehicles. This new, medium-caliber chain gun is a proven variant of the M230LF single-feed chain gun, the premier weapon used on the AH-64 Apache helicopter, to counter uncrewed aerial threats (C-UAS) and ground engagements.

"Combat veterans experienced such a high success rate with the M230 from the air, they requested a ground variant of this 30 mm x 113 mm solution," said John McCollum, director of business development for Bushmaster Chain Guns. "This is what prompted the engineering team at Northrop Grumman to develop the M230LF."

By offering a dual feed, the need for mixed ammunition belts in a single feed is eliminated for this single-barrel, electrically driven auto cannon. It uses external electrical power to cycle the weapon between shots. A standard recommended ammunition load includes XM1211 proximity fuzed rounds for C-UAS and XM1198 high-explosive, dual-purpose rounds for anti-armor capability. The cannon's system can instantly switch between ammunition paths, meaning operators can seamlessly address targets that require different 30 mm x 113 mm ammunition types.

Northrop Grumman says this weapon is "the first medium-caliber chain gun in the world to offer a dual feed."

A dual-feed system gives operators the option to change between advanced ammunition rounds with the flip of a switch, delivering increased mission flexibility and lethality. The ability to select between two different rounds ensures targets are addressed with the best ammunition for the target type, saving time, reducing logistical burdens, and allowing for more engagements before needing to reload the system.

For operators already using the M230LF, the Bushmaster loads out at a similar weight to the single-feed unit and features 60% part commonality, leading to faster routine repairs and decreased downtime for maintenance. Northrop Grumman says single-feed M230LF cannons will continue to be produced for customers that prefer that option.

As a single-feed unit, the M230LF is currently used by Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), Stryker vehicles, Mine-Resistant All-Terrain Vehicles (MRATV), and the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, according to Northrop Grumman. The company says it was also "adopted by the Army as XM914 to support their M-SHORAD program and is under contract to support the U.S. Marine Corps MADIS program."

Northrop Grumman has not issued a video yet showing the new dual-feed chain gun in action, but it is interesting to watch the single-feed weapon in action. One of its key attributes is that it can be integrated into remote weapon stations where small-caliber weapons are traditionally used.

VIDEO: The M230LF Bushmaster Chain Gun (Army XM914). [Credit: Northrop Grumman]

The M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun is currently at Technology Readiness Level 6. Meeting this threshold enables the capability to undergo live fire demonstrations that are currently scheduled for early 2025.

Source: Northrop Grumman

Published April 2025

Rate this article