With the introduction of helicopters to the modern battlefield, the M61 system was redesigned and scaled down for use as a helicopter weapon system. In 1956 the gun was standardized as the M61 20mm cannon and entered service with both the United States Army and Air Force. After extensive testing, the 20mm version was selected for further testing to determine its suitability as an aircraft mounted weapon. In 1952 GE produced three different guns. In 1946 the General Electric company received the contract for this new program, code named "Project Vulcan," and was tasked with producing functional prototypes in a number of calibers for further testing. Initial tests proved promising as a vintage Gatling gun, now powered by an electric motor in place of the usual hand crank, was able to achieve rates of fire in excess of 4,000 rounds per minute. Army Ordnance Research and Development Service hit on the idea of re-introducing the multi-barreled rotary weapon invented by Richard J. Realizing that singled barreled automatic weapons had essentially reached their design limits, the U.S. Profense LLC demonstrates their M134 mini gun during Range Day at the 2019 Shot Show. 50 caliber machine gun had been rendered obsolete by jet aircraft and needed to be replaced by a weapon with increased range, rate of fire, and projectile lethality. While adequate as an air combat / ground attack weapon during World War Two, the Browning M2. Soon after the end of the Second World War the newly formed United States Air Force identified a need for an improved gun system for its aircraft. Navy for its riverine craft and special operations watercraft. It is used in a variety of rotor wing aircraft in the “door gunner” position and is used by the U.S. The so-called “Gatling” design relies on electric motors to power the barrels resulting in a firing rate as much as 6,000 rounds per minute. The M134 GAU-17 “Vulcan” cannon is a six-barreled, air cooled, medium machine gun used primarily as a fire suppression weapon in aircraft for the U.S. Categories Weapons Air Force Weapons Army Weapons Machine Guns Air Force Equipment Army EquipmentĪction: Electrically driven rotary breech
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