XM301
Encyclopedia
The XM301 Cannon is an externally-powered, three-barrelled 20mm gatling gun
made by General Dynamics
for the U.S. Army. Developed for use with the RAH-66 Comanche
stealth helicopter
, it is the world's lightest 20mm gatling cannon. The XM301 was designed to be a versatile and accurate lightweight cannon that could serve both an air-to-air
and air-to-ground role. Development and manufacture of the XM301 was cancelled in 2004 along with its parent RAH-66 program.
. It is externally-powered, relying on the same power delivery system as the Vulcan. It fires M50 and PGU-series ammunition found in the Vulcan, as well as newer lightweight X1031/1032 aluminum-cased ammunition at either 750 or 1500 rounds per minute. Designed for use in combat helicopters, the XM301 boasts a dispersion
of 2.2 milliradians
, making it accurate at long ranges. The XM301 weighs 80.5 pounds, less than a third the weight of the Vulcan. It can hold 500 rounds of ammunition, and is able to be field-reloaded in 15 minutes. The turret allows an aiming range of +15° to -45° in elevation
and ±120° azimuth. It may be stored at +2° in elevation and 180° azimuth in order to reduce radar cross-section.
project. Originally developed in the 1980s, the Comanche had been tested with a two-barrel version of the M61 Vulcan, but it was upgraded to a three-barrel unit before General Dynamics
took over the program in 2001. General Dynamics worked in tandem with Groupement Industriel des Armements Terrestres
(GIAT) to develop the primary armament system for the RAH-66, with GIAT developing the turret and General Dynamics the weapon itself. The RAH-66 first flew in January 1996 with a non-functional version of the XM301, although subsequent flights used a working development model, with development testing beginning in 1997. In total, General Dynamics and GIAT were contracted to deliver 1,217 XM301 weapon systems to the U.S. Army, but funding for the RAH-66 was redistributed to the upgrade of existing helicopters in February 2004.
Gatling gun
The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. It is well known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat...
made by General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
for the U.S. Army. Developed for use with the RAH-66 Comanche
RAH-66 Comanche
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was an advanced five-blade armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. The RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004, before mass production began, after nearly $7 billion was spent on the program.During the early 1980s, the U.S...
stealth helicopter
Stealth helicopter
Stealth helicopters are helicopters that incorporate stealth technology to avoid detection. In recent years, designs for blades have emerged that can significantly reduce the noise, which is a major issue for clandestine use of helicopters...
, it is the world's lightest 20mm gatling cannon. The XM301 was designed to be a versatile and accurate lightweight cannon that could serve both an air-to-air
Air-to-air
Air-to-air can refer to:* Air-to-air combat* Air-to-air missile* Air-to-air photography* Air-to-air refueling* Air-to-air rocket...
and air-to-ground role. Development and manufacture of the XM301 was cancelled in 2004 along with its parent RAH-66 program.
Description
The XM301 is a lightweight, three-barrelled version of the M61 VulcanM61 Vulcan
The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft...
. It is externally-powered, relying on the same power delivery system as the Vulcan. It fires M50 and PGU-series ammunition found in the Vulcan, as well as newer lightweight X1031/1032 aluminum-cased ammunition at either 750 or 1500 rounds per minute. Designed for use in combat helicopters, the XM301 boasts a dispersion
Dispersion
Dispersion may refer to:In physics:*The dependence of wave velocity on frequency or wavelength:**Dispersion , for light waves**Dispersion **Acoustic dispersion, for sound waves...
of 2.2 milliradians
Radian
Radian is the ratio between the length of an arc and its radius. The radian is the standard unit of angular measure, used in many areas of mathematics. The unit was formerly a SI supplementary unit, but this category was abolished in 1995 and the radian is now considered a SI derived unit...
, making it accurate at long ranges. The XM301 weighs 80.5 pounds, less than a third the weight of the Vulcan. It can hold 500 rounds of ammunition, and is able to be field-reloaded in 15 minutes. The turret allows an aiming range of +15° to -45° in elevation
Elevation (ballistics)
In ballistics, the elevation is the angle between the horizontal plane and the direction of the barrel of a gun, mortar or heavy artillery. Originally, elevation was a linear measure of how high the gunners had to physically lift the muzzle of a gun up from the gun carriage to hit targets at a...
and ±120° azimuth. It may be stored at +2° in elevation and 180° azimuth in order to reduce radar cross-section.
Development
Development on the XM301 began in 2001 as part of the RAH-66 ComancheRAH-66 Comanche
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was an advanced five-blade armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. The RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004, before mass production began, after nearly $7 billion was spent on the program.During the early 1980s, the U.S...
project. Originally developed in the 1980s, the Comanche had been tested with a two-barrel version of the M61 Vulcan, but it was upgraded to a three-barrel unit before General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
took over the program in 2001. General Dynamics worked in tandem with Groupement Industriel des Armements Terrestres
Nexter
Nexter is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer.-Products:...
(GIAT) to develop the primary armament system for the RAH-66, with GIAT developing the turret and General Dynamics the weapon itself. The RAH-66 first flew in January 1996 with a non-functional version of the XM301, although subsequent flights used a working development model, with development testing beginning in 1997. In total, General Dynamics and GIAT were contracted to deliver 1,217 XM301 weapon systems to the U.S. Army, but funding for the RAH-66 was redistributed to the upgrade of existing helicopters in February 2004.