Article Posted on : - Sep 03, 2010

F/A-18E/F fighter aircraft and M61A2 20mm Gatling gun system (inset).

VIRGINIA (BNS): US Navy has awarded a $9.8 million contract to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products for the production of the M61A2 20mm Gatling gun system for the F/A-18E/F aircraft.

The defence contract was awarded by US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, Maryland.

Production work will be performed at General Dynamics’ facility in Saco, Maine, and the programme will be managed at General Dynamics’ Burlington Technology Center in Vermont. Work is expected to be completed in September 2012.

"The M61A2 offers a lightweight, reliable gun system to protect US servicemen and women. Our work force in Maine takes great pride in manufacturing the M61A2 for U.S. warfighters," said Mike O’Brien, vice president and general manager of gun systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products in a company news release.

The M61A2 20mm Gatling gun system is mounted in the nose of the aircraft and can fire a rate of 4,000 or 6,000 shots per minute. The M61A2 is 20 percent lighter than the previous model and operates on a closed-loop rotary, linkless ammunition feed system.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics and provide a broad range of system solutions for military and commercial applications.