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The M230 Cannon is a 30 mm (30×113 mm), single-barrel electrically-driven
autocannon An autocannon, automatic cannon or machine cannon is a automatic firearm, fully automatic gun that is capable of rapid-firing large-caliber ( or more) armour-piercing, explosive or incendiary ammunition, incendiary shell (projectile), shells, ...
, using external electrical power (as opposed to recoil or expanding gas generated by the firing cartridge) to cycle the weapon between shots. It was designed and manufactured originally by Hughes Helicopters in Culver City, California. , it is produced by
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9, 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed, built, and deli ...
.


Development

In 1972, Hughes Helicopters began a company-funded research effort to design a machine gun to fire the U.S. Army's M50 round.Richardson & Peacock, 1992, pp. 38–40. By April 1973, the program had fired test rounds of more powerful WECOM linked ammunition, from a prototype (A model). In January 1975, a model C was added, a linkless version for the proposed Advanced Attack Helicopter YAH-64; the helicopter was eventually adopted as the AH-64 Apache, with the model C as standard armament. The linked ammunition version was intended for use on the AH-1S Cobra as the M230E1, but was later dropped.


Design


Apache and DAP mounts

The M230 Chain Gun is used on the MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator. It is also the Area Weapon System on the
Boeing AH-64 Apache The Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing AH-64 Apache ( ) is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. Nose-mounted sensors help target acquisition, acquire targets an ...
attack helicopter An attack helicopter is an armed helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the offensive (military), offensive capability of engaging ground targets such as enemy infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Due to their ...
, mounted on the chin turret. It uses a electric motor to fire linkless ammunition at a rate of 625±25 rounds per minute. The air-cooled gun's practical rate of fire is about 300 rounds per minute with a 10-minute cooling period. The gun has a positive cook-off safety for open bolt clearing, and double ram prevention. Spent casings are ejected overboard through the bottom of the gun. The mount on the AH-64 uses secondary hydraulics to move the gun. The elevation is provided via a single hydraulic actuator on the gun's centerline just forward of the pivot point. The gun is spring-loaded to return to its centerline stowed position with the barrel angled up about 11 degrees if hydraulic power is lost. This allows the gun, which is mounted below the copilot station, to collapse into a space between the pilots' stations in a hard landing. The Apache can carry up to 1,200 rounds for the gun in a device known as the 12-PAK, designed and manufactured by
Meggitt Parker Meggitt (legally Meggitt Ltd) is a British international company specialising in components and sub-systems for the aerospace, defence and selected energy markets. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the F ...
Defense Systems, Inc. However, U.S. Army Apaches can carry only 300 because they also have a special internal fuel tank, the Robertson IAFS (known as the "Robby Tank" to the crews). Ammunition is loaded into the Apache by armament personnel using specialized ground support equipment: an aircraft-mounted motorized loader and special ammunition handling tray. The M230 can fire the 30×113mm rounds used in the
ADEN cannon The Royal Small Arms Factory ADEN cannon (ADEN being an acronym for "Armament Development, Enfield") is a 30 mm revolver cannon used on many military aircraft, particularly those of the British Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. Developed p ...
and DEFA cannon, although U.S. Apaches use Lightweight rounds made with a lighter alloy than brass (ADEN) or steel (DEFA) cases. The M230 rounds cannot be fired by weapons designed for the ADEN or DEFA rounds. The Lightweight 30 mm rounds come in three varieties: the M788 rounds, which have a blue band near the nose, the M789 with a yellow stripe atop a black band, and the M799 with a red stripe atop a yellow band. The M799 HEI round is not used by the U.S. Army because of the danger of a round exploding in the gun barrel. The M789 is the U.S. Apache's main tactical round, a High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) ammunition cartridge. Each round contains of explosive charge sealed in a shaped-charge liner. The liner collapses into an armor-piercing jet of metal that can penetrate above of
rolled homogeneous armour Rolled homogeneous armour (RHA) is a type of vehicle armour made of a single steel composition hot-rolled to improve its material characteristics, as opposed to layered or cemented armour. Its first common application was in tanks. After World W ...
at 2500 m. The shell is also designed to fragment upon impact, and produces antipersonnel effects out to 13 ft (4 m) from the point of impact.


Variants


M230LF and MAWS

The M230LF, offered by
Orbital ATK Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9, 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed, built, and de ...
, is a more capable version of the Apache autocannon. Features include an anti-hangfire system, a delinking feeder that exploits linked ammunition, and an extended-length barrel, which results in greater muzzle velocity and hitting power from the same M789 HEDP and NATO standard ADEN/DEFA projectiles. The rate of fire is reduced to 200 rounds/minute and overall length decreased to . The chain gun can be installed in an enclosed turret on patrol boats and ground vehicles. The MAWS (Modular Advanced Weapon System) lightweight gun system, developed in partnership with the U.S. Navy, utilizes a remotely operated M230LF in an open mount. It is controlled by a Remote Operator's Console (ROC)—with either dual grips or a joystick—from a touch panel display and extended day color TV. In February 2015, Oshkosh Defense and ATK conducted a firing demonstration of the M230LF on an Oshkosh M-ATV
MRAP Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAPV), also known as MRAP vehicle, is a type of armoured personnel carrier that is designed specifically to withstand land mines, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, and ambushes to save troops' li ...
to demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of a medium caliber weapon system for light tactical vehicles. The live fire demonstration showcased improved accuracy in mobile engagements and improved lethality on the M-ATV using the gun, mounted on the Electro Optic Systems (EOS) R400S-Mk2, a 3-axis stabilized
remote weapon station A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), remotely operated weapon system (ROWS), or remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated light or medium-caliber weapon system, often equipped with a fire-control system, that can be installed on Co ...
(RWS) weighing less than . The addition of the M230LF stabilized on the RWS provides mobile precise lethality, usually reserved for heavier combat vehicles, with increased off-road mobility and MRAP levels of protection, along with optional Stinger missiles. Oshkosh has also fitted the M230LF to the L-ATV to fulfil the U.S. Army's light reconnaissance vehicle (LRV) role. Australian company Electro Optic Systems also utilises the M230LF for its " Slinger" defensive system. The system is planned for usage against drones by using a radar and a variety of sensors to track and destroy targets with a single shot. All together it weighs less than 400 kg (880 lb) and can be mounted on a flatbed truck, allowing for a more cost effective way of destroying drones compared to missile based systems. On October 2, 2023 it was confirmed that EOS would send an undisclosed number of Slingers to Ukraine to combat the growing drone threat. In October 2024, unveiled the M230LF dual-feed chain gun. The cannon has a dual-feed mechanism to allow operators to select between XM1211
proximity fuze A Proximity Fuse (also VT fuse or "variable time fuze") is a fuse that detonates an explosive device automatically when it approaches within a certain distance of its target. Proximity fuses are designed for elusive military targets such as air ...
d rounds to neutralize UAS and XM1198 HEDP rounds for anti-armor engagements. This enables a single gun to target both threats and eliminates the need for mixed ammunition belts in a single feed.


In SHORAD-use


Stryker A1 M-SHORAD

On 28 February 2018, the
US Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...
announced that Stryker vehicles would be modified with sensors and weapons to fulfill an interim Maneuver-Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) requirement. This is in response to a capability gap identified in Europe against Russian
unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers onboard, but rather is controlled remotely or is autonomous.De Gruyter Handbook of Dron ...
s (UAVs). In June 2018, the Army chose
Leonardo DRS Leonardo DRS, formerly DRS Technologies, Inc., is a US-based defense contractor. Previously traded on the NYSE, the company was purchased by the Italian firm Finmeccanica (now Leonardo) in October 2008. History Diagnostic/Retrieval Systems, Inc ...
to supply the mission equipment package, which partnered with
Moog Inc. Moog Inc. ( ) is an American-based designer and manufacturer of electric, electro-hydraulic and hydraulic motion, controls and systems for applications in aerospace, defense, industrial and medical devices. The company operates under four segmen ...
to integrate the Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) onto the vehicle. The system can be fitted with a Stinger pod and Longbow Hellfire missile rails and comes equipped with a 30 mm M230LF chain gun and the 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, as well as non-kinetic defeat capabilities and a
Rada The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central Lond ...
onboard multimission hemispheric radar. The Army chose DRS because of the flexibility of the reconfigurable turret to allow for growth opportunities and alternate weapon options, it posed less intrusion to the existing vehicle platform, as they have a desire to keep the Stryker as common across the fleet as possible, and it provided increased protection as the crew can reload ammunition under armor. All 144 M-SHORAD systems are planned to be delivered by 2022. The turret can mount one four-shot Stinger pod or two Hellfire missiles on either side, and reloading of the M230LF and Stingers can be done through roof hatches giving partial protection. The system can act in a secondary anti-vehicle role, as the 30 mm cannon is larger than the 25 mm gun mounted on the M2 Bradley and the Hellfire has greater range than TOW missiles typically used by ground vehicles.


MADIS

In September 2020, the
US Marines The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the Marines, maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expedi ...
contracted
Kongsberg Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production and fo ...
to qualify the XM914 RWS on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), equipped with an XM914E1 30 mm cannon, 7.62 mm coaxial machinegun, and Stinger missiles to fulfill an air defense role. The Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) fills the gap left by the retirement of the
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger The AN/TWQ-1 Avenger Air Defense System is an American self-propelled surface-to-air missile system which provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-win ...
by the USMC in the mid-2000s. It consists of two JLTVs, one with the turret fitted with a 30 mm cannon, 4-round Stinger pod, and an optical sensor and the other with an RPS-42 360-degree radar, 7.62 mm M134 minigun, and EO/IR sensors; both have the Modi II dismounted
electronic countermeasures An electronic countermeasure (ECM) is an electrical or electronic device designed to countermeasure, trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny ...
system and shoulder-fired Stingers. The indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract was signed in October 2021.


Agnostic Gun Truck

On 4 April 2023, the United States included "counter-Unmanned Aerial System 30 mm gun trucks" as part of
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative or USAI is a United States Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense-led funding program to increase Ukraine's capacity to defend itself more effectively against Russo-Ukrainian War, Russian aggressi ...
funds during the
Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
. The
Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational Aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and Arms industry, defense company. With 97,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $40 billion, it is one of the world's largest Arms industry ...
Agnostic Gun Truck consists of an M230LF mounted on a civilian pickup truck. Three battery sets each including three gun trucks and one Mobile Acquisition, Cueing and Effector (M-ACE) system will be delivered; M-ACE incorporates a mast-mounted
3D radar 3D radar provides for radar ranging and direction in three dimensions. In addition to range, the more common two-dimensional radar provides only azimuth for direction, whereas the 3D radar also provides elevation. Applications include weather rada ...
that can detect a drone out to as well as tracking and identification cameras. The radar cues the guns onto a target, which fires M1211 High Explosive Proximity Self Destruct rounds capable of engaging UAS up to Class 2. The AGT was meant to be delivered within 30 to 90 days of the contract award, however by early August delays in the procurement process had prevented the full complement of trucks from being built. They were to be sent "very shortly" by October 2023.As Ukraine braces for winter drone attacks, allies rush to provide defenses
''Defense One''. 2 November 2023.


Aircraft use

*
Boeing AH-64 Apache The Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing AH-64 Apache ( ) is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. Nose-mounted sensors help target acquisition, acquire targets an ...
* AgustaWestland Apache * Sikorsky MH-60L/M Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) * CASA/IPTN CN-235


See also

* M242 Bushmaster 25mm chain gun * Bushmaster II 30mm chain gun * Bushmaster III 35/50mm chain gun * Bushmaster IV 40mm chain gun * Shipunov 2A42 30mm automatic cannon * 2A72 30mm automatic cannon


References


Works cited

* *


External links


Northrop Grumman M230 Chain Gun FactsheetNorthrop Grumman M230LF Chain Gun Factsheet
{{Chain guns 30 mm artillery Autocannon Aircraft guns Alliant Techsystems Chain guns Military equipment introduced in the 1980s