Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it has transitioned to full-rate production of the Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster Chain Gun developed for the U.S. Marine Corps’ (USMC) new Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV).
The Mk44S chain gun will be integrated into the Kongsberg remote-controlled turret used in the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30 mm program (ACV-30). With this integration, it is aimed to significantly increase the firepower of the Marine Corps’ amphibious vehicles.
High Firepower and Future Flexibility
The key features and capabilities offered by the Mk44S are as follows:
• Superior Performance: The Mk44S provides increased range, reliability, and overmatch.
• Ammunition Compatibility: It is capable of firing all NATO-standard 30×173 mm ammunition, including Northrop Grumman’s advanced ammunition family.
• Upgrade Option: The weapon offers a future-oriented flexibility by providing the option to upgrade from 30 mm to 40 mm with the replacement of only the barrel and a few critical components.
Will provide the Marine Corps with battlefield superiority
Dave Fine, Vice President of Weapons Systems at Northrop Grumman, shared his assessment of the new gun system: “The Mk44 Bushmaster Chain Gun delivers unmatched firepower and reliability even in the most demanding conditions. By integrating this proven capability into the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program, we are equipping the Marine Corps with the tools they need to achieve battlefield overmatch and stay ahead of evolving threats.”
Production of the Mk44S continues at Northrop Grumman’s facility in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
Source: C4Defence / Northrop Grumman
