Northrop Grumman to supply XM813 Bushmaster Chain Guns for US Army Strykers

Northrop Grumman Corporation was recently awarded a contract from the US Army for XM813 Bushmaster Chain Guns as part of the Stryker Medium Caliber Weapon System 30mm Lethality Upgrade programme.

The base contract and first order call for 95 chain guns with initial deliveries beginning in early 2022. This deal will support enhancements to the XM813 and the integration of the chain guns into an additional US Army Brigade Combat Team.

The XM813 is a 30x173mm calibre cannon and a derivative of the company’s Mk44 Bushmaster Chain Gun integrated on air, land and naval platforms.

It was initially fielded to meet the urgent operational need to ‘upgun’ the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s Stryker fleet based in Germany to provide crews with increased capability to defend against emerging threats.

The XM813’s versatility allows for the incorporation of future advancements, including the ability to fire Northrop Grumman’s advanced ammunition types which will ultimately include proximity fuzed and guided munitions.

Currently, the XM813 is capable of firing Northrop Grumman’s MK310 Programmable Air Bursting Munition (PABM) with air-burst, point-detonate and point-detonate with delay fuze settings to defeat a variety of targets. 

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