Meet the New M230LF: America's 30mm Chain Gun

The M230LF, offered by Orbital ATK, is a more capable version of the Apache autocannon. Features include an anti-hangfire system, a delinking feeder that exploits linked ammunition, and an extended-length barrel, which results in greater muzzle velocity and hitting power from the same M789 HEDP and NATO standard 30 mm ADEN/DEFA projectiles.
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Thanks

[@tinfoiltruckerscap9613]

A 30mm proximity projectile should be a huge gamechanger in the new, drone-based war scenario.

[@perelfberg7415]

Yea I mean thats what would make it effective. This system should be drone capable and with out any proximity functionality is pointless.

[@AC-gu9ks]

I believe rheinmetal has already produced a dual turret version.

[@earthcitizen7245]

you know they have lasers for drones which are cost effective and deadly accurate

[@AC-gu9ks]

@@earthcitizen7245 They take too long to take down a drone and needs to be constantly on target to transfer heat.

[@earthcitizen7245]

they're very accurate and quick@@AC-gu9ks

[@darktoadone5068]

Wow, I was a civil service worker for the Army many moons ago and maintained and installed various weapon systems on track vehicles, technology has come a long way since then. I'd love to be in one of the vehicles that have this beast.

[@darktoadone5068]

@@BasedPatriot-USA I'm way to old for that.

[@SALTYDATTO]

@4:35 I was not expecting R. Lee! RIP Gunny! Awesome vidya!

[@TomO-nx1bd]

That's a pretty big upgrade replacing .50 cals with a 30mm on light vehicles. Like going from a .223 to a .50 cal!

[@boxlid214]

I have to admit it cracked me up showing those two guys rocking around in that truck while the thing was firing 😂👌

[@ChiefAlday]

​@@boxlid214RIP R Lee Ermey

[@boxlid214]

@@ChiefAlday damn dude, I knew he looked familiar, I didn't notice it was him though. That's cool as hell he got to experience this bad boy before his time was up

[@kettujabamiesukkeliukko]

@@ChiefAlday I immediatly knew it was him, how old is this video?

[@herptek]

​@@boxlid214The same thing caught my attention as well. I always assumed 20mm at maximum to be a suitable bore diameter for omni-platform anti-drone system like this.

[@robthebold4589]

Chaingun! I went through Armament Repair school in1975. Back then, the M242 25mm was what we worked on. The gun itself is not complicated to repair, but the gearbox was nightmare fuel. The gearbox drives the chain that runs the gun. When we got to that part of learning to repair, our instructors threw their hands in the air and said "send it to Depot (Maintenance) and let them figure it out!" It looked like clockwork in that box.

[@DodPaDinSkulder]

Had something like this happen a while back. We came to a part in the training, and the instructor said something along the lines of, this is X System. It's full of MS, if there's a problem with X just send it back. I asked what MS was. He replied "Magic Shit".😂

[@vincedibona4687]

Sounds German.

[@Craig-fl8jj]

It's ok. Most military mechanics, electricians, etc can't really work in the private sector because we fix shit and aren't parts changers.

[@trumanhw]

I'm guessing your ears perked up too, when he said that the 113mm cartridge of this 30mm M230 is "more powerful" than the M242 Bushmaster, yeah..? Bc we're talking about the 25mm x 137mm vs 30mm x 113mm. As far as kinetic energy, the 25mm is far more powerful. And if I'm not mistaken it has airburst rounds (HE and HEDP) just as the 30mm x 113 does. Of course, the HE round in the 30mm is going to be larger and thus have more semtex in it. But it's just more nuanced than simply saying "more powerful." Anyway, cool info re: the gearbox.

[@chrisfisichella6659]

Whoever that team was who designed and manufactured that piece of weaponry has my sincere congratulations. Excellent job.

[@Forevertrue]

Except all that exposed wiring is Junk. That has to be fixed. One errant shot and 3 systems can be ruined.

[@AJ-jy6lb]

With a name like Bushmaster, it's got to be good! :o) Bushmaster chain guns,....i'll take mine in gun metal black.

[@aghaidholc7718]

@@Forevertrue blah blah blah 👎

[@pnzrldr]

They are all dead or retired by now. Ancient cannon tech.

[@infinitesimotel]

What is all this for exactly? 20 foot Trolls coming over the mountains?

[@user-tb7cb2rf3n]

The guys in the truck laughing were having just too much fun. I am jealous.

[@xikungao2376]

They're putting these on JLTV and M-ATVs??? This is legitimately the most underrated upgrades to US light armor. Imagine while China and Russian and even other US allies only have some 50 call equivalent weapons mounted on their trucks, US rolls in with every M-ATVs basically carrying the turret of a better Bradley that also fires VT fuze shells at drones.

[@MFitz12]

For the counter-drone mission only at this point. It is not replacing M2's or Mk 19's.

[@maxwellmortimermontoure7274]

Lotta points in this skill tree. 🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅

[@rtbdmd]

The system that includes rails for the stinger and hellfire missiles is particularly interesting. If that can be run on the JLTV and M-ATV it will massively increase the combat effectiveness of what will become the most ubiquitous armored vehicles in the US inventory. Imagine scores of these things roaming the battlespace, with the firepower to counter fixed and rotary wing aircraft, drones of all shapes and sizes, heavy and light armored vehicles and unarmored vehicles not to mention dismounts. All while avoiding the cost, logistical tail and other issues associated with heavy armored vehicles. All it needs is antiship capability and literally everything is covered. ;-) In reality the hellfire could probably do some serious damage to warships, too.

[@piotrd.4850]

@@rtbdmd I'd rather see APKWS here.

[@robertandrew880]

Seriously drooling here. I get so jealous at the tech our men and women get to unleash. We had fun stuff in the 90s, when I served, but it's nothing compared to today

[@CheekyMenace]

Such a versatile and vicious weapon!

[@infinitesimotel]

For what though?

[@stuartfury3390]

@@infinitesimotel Watch any guncame footage from apache's and your questions will be answered.

[@leagueofotters2774]

@@infinitesimotel I could see a use in rush hour traffic.

[@infinitesimotel]

@@leagueofotters2774 Yep Ill give you that lol.

[@Idkanything829]

@@infinitesimotel panzie

[@normanedwards7220]

I was a gunner on a 30mm cannon , it was deadly accurate, ....a long range snipers weapon , ...( single shot ) at any range it was amazing, but on automatic it was terrible , ( we only ever used it as a long range , single shot weapon) on auto , it would vibrate that much that the second shot would be nowhere near the aiming point , ...but as a single shot weapon , it was terrifying, ....if you were in its sights , you would not be reading this

[@user-nv1gm2zj7y]

thats why i didnt get why the apache would do auto fire.

[@grouchosays]

These things are poorly designed.

[@masonagent4009]

@@grouchosayspoorly designed? it’s supposed to be an area weapon lol😂 it’s designed to do EXACTLY that. Precision with slower fire rate, maximum destruction when you mag dump.

[@grouchosays]

@@masonagent4009 M60 far better.

[@silntstl]

@@grouchosays What?

[@cascadianrangers728]

Would have loved to have these in Afghanistan, this thing shreds I felt prerry badass behind an m2 or mk19, I cant imagine what it would be like to have this much firepower!

[@Truthbomb918]

Would have still lost the war though

[@cascadianrangers728]

@@Truthbomb918 Probally would have lost sooner, in counter insurgency firepower is generally unhelpfull at making the natives hate you less

[@stevilknevil107]

@tjmurphy2567 What a low-IQ way to look at that war lol. The U.S. dominated the Taliban immediately after arriving in Afghanistan, making them hide in caves and resort to IEDs and potshots. We stayed for 20 years… could’ve stayed til the end of time had we wanted to. But just because we eventually got tired of trying to civilize that hellhole and left, and the Afghan army we tried to train couldn’t fight for their own country, doesn’t mean we “lost”. If anything, it’s another example of soft politicians setting unrealistic humanitarian goals in wars, as friggin usual

[@LukeR1M]

@@stevilknevil107 Dude, keep it real. Your troops were running in fear from men in sandals leaving them military equipment worth millions of dollars.

[@milesdeimichael39]

The footage of R. Lee Ermey was very cool! Rest In Peace Mr. Ermey. 🙏🙏

[@ljprep6250]

Man, you KNOW that round is going to hit hard when it shakes the truck and contents that hard on sending it. HoooEeee! Dat some spice. (also RIP Cajun Chef Justin Wilson)

[@josephpacchetti5997]

Excellent Video. Thanks Sam and the awesome crew of U.S. Military News. 🇺🇸

[@phuoc-huutran6303]

A military oscar-gold medaille for this incredible weapon-system : cheap, effective gegen DRONES ! 👍👍👍

[@tjtrent2351]

RIP R. Lee Ermey, Miss that ol boy. He sure was loving that demo.

[@dennisberg2474]

At 4:30, watching them dance in the truck is hilarious, impressive recoil

[@piggypoo]

3:35 Damn, check out that cartridge comparison. It's like moving from hotdogs to cucumbers!

[@LandonWalsh]

That’s what she said

[@netizenkane2230]

That's the sound of freedom.

[@randymagnum7508]

Very informative and well put together!! Thank you for your hard work!

[@toddburgess5056]

Great video, lots of information and explosions !

[@markmilan57]

I especially like that Apache gun on a humvee. DARPA guys are genius.

[@3073Sean]

Thats funny, at 0:15 seconds you can see that the crew left a panel open prior to take off. In the crews defense, when firing the gun that door just pops open some times. If I remember right that is where the air hook up is.

[@Bronco46tube]

It was good to get a fleeting glimpse of R. Lee again.

[@NollieFlipX]

Cant wait to see a Bradley with a 30mm and Helfires, it's going to be nuts

[@prjndigo]

Uhm. "We have Apache at home" isn't new, it was in the original publish of Twilight 2000 and is simply a throwback because a Bushmaster will roll most of our wheeled vehicles no matter how you mount it.

[@Dra741]

Nothing like having a Apache helicopter over you firing at the enemy and you feel all of the empty shell casings coming out, what I like about the chain gun is it doesn't Jam so easily because it expels rounds that do not discharge

[@adriandumitrascu4292]

injured in battle, cause: empty 30mm shell fell on soldier arm.

[@infinitesimotel]

What enemy?

[@yankees29]

@@adriandumitrascu4292first time I saw one i was surprised how big it was.

[@dennismcclintock3154]

I agree but don't know what that's like but all time favorite is the A10 worthog ppssssstttttttt

[@bradleyanderson4315]

This is basically the old 30mm cartridge used by the ADEN and DEFA cannons. it is not the same 30 mm as used by the Warthog.

[@ayylmao182]

That’s a gau, they’re completely different

[@bradleyanderson4315]

@@ayylmao182 I was referring to the cartridge used in the A10 the 30x173 not the rotary cannon. That cartridge is used in several ground vehicles like the new model of the Stryker but no active aircraft(formerly used in the Viggen) The 30 mm used here is a medium velocity used in the aircraft cannons(English and French)that I cited.

[@jj4791]

Bushmaster makes a heavier duty chaingun with 40mm OR the 30mm of the GAU-8.

[@jimscott1717]

This on the Ares carrier with a Javelin launcher would be a massive upgrade in firepower for the British Army. The millions spent on the failed Warrior programme could havae been spent on adding this gun and Javelin luncher to the existing Warriors, might need a power update but much better than trying to add a 40mm canon turret.

[@mitchbarredo3990]

What a beautiful weapon.

[@davecollins6113]

Glad to see they built the Uke version, won't get a better place to test the various platforms, and they shud be testing a lot more over there.

[@jj4791]

Bushmaster makes these chain guns in 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm low velocity. Twin 40mm with air-burst rounds and gun laying radar would be absolute perfection against drone swarms.

[@BrianMLogan]

Such a great channel.

[@bradjohnson4787]

I worked for Hughes Helicopters when our ordinance division developed the chain gun.

[@ezOqekuRitusohI]

The Bradley needs to upgrade its 25mm, this ain't the 1980s anymore!

[@scottsauritch3216]

Well the Army was looking into this, then they realized the M2 is ~40 years old and similarly to their conclusion on the Abrams recently, the base vehicle design has reached it's limit of potential and completely new system need to be designed from scratch... Hence the XM30 (unlike the failed FGCV system and /or NGCV) is going ahead essentially no matter what. Even if it's not exactly what the Army had in their FANTASY-WORLD which has proven to be utterly un-realistic for the time or the foreseeable future. However the XM30 will feature an 50mm Auto-Cannon... And likely have an M230LF atop it's roof for C/UAS integrated with the censors of whatever APS the XM30 WILL UNDOUBTABLY HAVE.(As we can see from Ukraine, ALL future fighting vehicles should have both an APS for ATGMs/KEPs as well as C/UAS systems like M230LF! Otherwise, might as well not even bother..!) The XM30 program unlike it's failed/canceled predecessor programs is ahead of schedule and will be either the GDLS Griffin3/ASCOD-based, or American Rheinmetall Lynx-based submissions which are currently having ~12 Prototypes produced each for the final phase of the competition. Army will receive and test the prototypes in 2025-26, and expect to choose and begin production of the winner around 2027-28. Fielding of the first units expected to happen by 2030...

[@DOI_ARTS]

The Bradleys are already being replaced. No need to upgrade

[@gstar6669]

Was there a clip from the full metal jacket ????

[@rebuild4992]

At first I was like "I want one of those!" then I started thinking about the cost of ammo and basically I would never afford to shoot it, so then I was like "FORGET IT".

[@myblacklab7]

You can probably get cheap ammo for it in Afghanistan, unfortunately.

[@gregparrott]

This was surprisingly informative. Thumbs up! The Ukraine war proves that slow flying, low flying and subsonic drones are now a major component on the battlefield. It's good to see that a chain gun, with proximity sensors on each round, may offer a low cost solution. It's all the more impressive that it can be mounted on a generic pickup truck. (although the repeated kick from the gun will likely cause frame fatigue).

[@atomic_wait]

I imagine the wear on the truck could be mitigated with some kind of rig to spread out the recoil impulse with springs or pneumatics or whatever.

[@gregparrott]

@@atomic_waitTrue. They could mitigate the gun's kick. But as it stands, the driver and passenger were laughing as though they were playing in bumper cars 4:36

[@atomic_wait]

@@gregparrott Is that R Lee Earmey in one of the seats?

[@gregparrott]

@@atomic_wait I had to look up the name and photo. The passenger bears a good resemblance. However, he died on 4/15/2018.

[@darktree5548]

​@@gregparrottthat was definitely him, video released in 2017. RIP gunney

[@dylanmcgregor6496]

R. Lee. Ermey, I loved Mail Call.

[@Synthmilk]

American Technicals, finally! Now make one that can mount a Stinger pod or a Hellfire pod.

[@Lucifer-qt9gh]

Bro the marines built a tomahawk launcher on a Humvee, or their new oshkosh one

[@upreydeen]

This gun's projectile is "subsonic" smaller that it's 30mm counterpart used in the A10 plane, the size of the projectile is smaller, yet this gun is capable to destroy a tank due to the use of deleted uranium, in Iraq Bradley vehicles had a big disadvantages with the 20mm gun, but this gun is a great upgrade

[@iunnox666]

DU is terrible. Causes cancer and birth defects.

[@Redx130000]

It’s not subsonic, it uses 30x113mm going 805m/s.

[@garrettord3304]

3:20 I like how we're showing off a 30mm cannon and then suddenly one round generates an explosion like a 2000lb bomb

[@billyyank2198]

4:36 R. Lee Ermy, RIP

[@richardlamphier9978]

👍 “EXCELLENT” Coverage !

[@andrewyoonhobai8453]

Put it on a mobile armored off road vehicle with good speed and gimbal controls for the driver, a decent aerotyne industries radar and you got yourself heavy metal

[@Body-By-Tacos]

So it’s odd how the weapons only achieved an accurate shot when the target was stationary…. But hey perhaps attacking drones stop and slowly group together before attacking.

[@VinhPham-hz8ny]

can this be use against ATGM? would be nice if it is to help defend our tank crew.

[@bluecollar58]

I imagine you would just cease to exist if you took a round from one of these.

[@DOI_ARTS]

Saw Afghan Taliban being turned to paste when hit by one single round

[@Pakhira148]

But they don't require direct hits right? Fragments do the work

[@jordank2028]

​@@Pakhira148nope the sheer force and explosion of the round penetrating a tanks armor would just vaporize anyone inside.

[@KnobbyGnome]

Attatched to the new AMPV. Thats impressive

[@richardpatureau3980]

Can I get one for my pick up? This would be perfect for those heavy traffic situations.

[@TehGnomeh]

Man... I want a Modern Military RTS :(

[@appi1387]

0:56 amazing accuracy

[@shawng7902]

When will that be available as an option on all Super Duty Fords? Originnally want a GAU8 but they take up all the cargo space and then some.

[@lightningmcqueen181]

Wow I've never seen an Apache sitting on a Carrier Deck B4!

[@dundonrl]

I see that's the ultimate accessory for the Ford Super Duty Tremor, wonder where I can get one for my Tremor?

[@wemcal]

Great video

[@neiloconnor9349]

OORAH!! That was Gunny R. Lee Ermey at about 4:37.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

What about 8x Bushmasters that rotate around a central point like the GAU-8

[@MultiSkyman1]

Nice! Where can I get one?

[@edwardp7725]

30 mm rounds are just... gnarly. Makes 50 cal look like a pellet gun.

[@NorbertKasko]

The M230 is a 40 years old weapon.

[@Truthbomb918]

M2 has been around for about a 100 years

[@Prolificposter]

As Sam Cooke might have said “That’s the sound of the men workin’ on the chain gun!”

[@kalebjones6496]

Wasnt this thing from the abrams x?

[@petrol_prophet]

that joyful manic laughter @4:34 hahaha

[@adrianmartinez9406]

Aww seeing gunny R.L Ermy breaks my heart. RIP gunny

[@mickeymang6]

They should run a M2 .50 cal in parallel with the M230F. Especially on HMMVV's and MRAP's to provide closer range capabilities. Unless the Platoon/ Team/Squad only run 1 or 2 of these with smaller elements.

[@brucegor]

used to make those rounds...sniff. All mine are down range by now, Upside all mine are down range by now and plenty more where they came from :)

[@lightningmcqueen181]

I spent almost 4 years in Stykers, I've ridden in the Infantry Carrier, Scout, Tow, Motor, & Command , Variants .. These Tricked out Strykers never seem to make it beyond the Field Testing Unit. Would have been awesome to have just 1 of the Variants that had the Gatlin Gun, Javelin, Tow system all in 1.... Would cut about 4 years off the Iraq war

[@vegangainsfather2877]

The Shorad stryker is in production and currently being fielded to ADA units. The Dragoon 30mm has already being fielded and a new 30mm stryker is currently about to be issued to units at JBLM

[@steveo7767]

Wow no links to connect just solo rounds loaded! Wish the 25mm bushmaster was that easy to load.

[@maeror1022]

Proximity detonating rounds are going to be very important in this new era of drone warfare. Loitering munitions too, probably.

[@xthanman]

looks like a nice addition to the Boston Dynamics robot Dog.

[@TheyRiseBand]

John with other dads at a play date for the kids: "So, what do you do for a living?" "I'm the Director of Business Development for Bushmaster Chain Guns." "Oh... Um... Sounds like an interesting job..."

[@perelfberg7415]

What about the airburst round. I find that to be the big value.

[@R.U.1.2.]

Thanks, Sarge.

[@infinitesimotel]

Value for what purpose? Other than to flex impotently on YT videos

[@ljprep6250]

Yeah, the proximity burst taking out drones, too? That's a big un.

[@ljprep6250]

@@infinitesimotel If Russia had the tech, they'd win that war. No impotence there.

[@infinitesimotel]

@@ljprep6250 Start a war with who?

[@Mack_Dingo]

What is that optic looking thing mounted in front of passenger's window?? 8:40

[@maxprivate3805]

That's off the chain!

[@CardanoETF]

nice to see Gunny

[@TravisMorien]

Nice of the drone operators to hover in one position like that. What are they like against drones that are moving and rapidly changing direction?

[@jedironin380]

This is just some test footage. It can do a lot more than what's shown. ;)

[@myblacklab7]

True, and proximity fuses were in use during World War II, so it's not like proximity fuses are new technology. Drones are typically slower than planes, but also more maneuverable, so I wonder how well these guns perform against kamikaze drones. The World War II guns did OK in preventing kamikazes from planes, but not great, and that was when there were dozens or hundreds of guns with proximity-fuse shells mounted on ships.

[@jaydouglas5847]

Good point ! That's why I advocate for defensive drones that attacks the opposing drone. It need only get close to the drone and explode. These could be launched from ANY vehicle right down to a motorcycle. 2lb-3lb-5lb onetime use anti-drone drones. Could even develop tube launched pod carrying 10 to 20 half pound drones , releasing the pod in general air space of the opposing drone, swarm style.

[@grouchosays]

@@jaydouglas5847 This is propaganda film

[@rickpilhorn]

These guys have it good these days. In my day we had to crawl under the nose and attach an uploader\downloader directly to the gun. And I have to say, it was a LOT more fun our way on a FARP.

[@acingthecake7978]

where can i buy one and will it fit on an audi A5?

[@sicks6six]

I need some 30mm proximity projectiles really bad, I love them, the man who made them should be made God of war.

[@brucemiller8109]

Where can I buy one, Price and will you ship to my local FFL

[@tianx9275]

How does it fare against swarms of drones given its slower RPM and rotation speed?

[@Frithonor]

Proximity rounds mean you just have to aim "kinda in the same area", as the drone. More forgiving

[@maxwellmortimermontoure7274]

Sounds awesome, I’ll take one!

[@426superbee4]

That is one wicked weapon 👍👍💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@Pakhira148]

0:56 does this footage show the fragmentation performance of the projectile?

[@YampaYak-vd1xo]

If you had to ask, i dont rhink so

[@mikegeorge8132]

Could a Bradley turret be adjusted to fit this in place of the 25mm Bushmaster?

[@agga7517]

I'm sure it will fit right in, since it's pretty much the same POS but newer and costs more..

[@Truthbomb918]

Bushmaster is a more power weapon, longer cartridge with linger barrel gives it much more velocity, range and penetration

[@wootle]

American civilians: "I need one of these for home defence, theres been a spate of package thefts lately"

[@TheMormonPower]

So when are they coming out with that 50mm XM-109 Chain Gun ? Ive seen videos about its just about to be comming any minute for easily a decade. 😮

[@MFitz12]

Nothing to put it on yet.

[@agga7517]

It's literally an upscaled version of M242, which means all the stupid problems will be 2x harder to fix. And like @mfitz1969 said, nothing to put it on yet, not enough guns made. Can't make up their stupid minds, etc, just like the whole M4 replacement, yet we still have PVS7s in inventory..

[@drrocketman7794]

The "new" Hughes - McDonnell-Douglas M230 chain gun that's been used since 1975. Got it.

[@gunsharck]

Gonna come in REAL handy for either A. Zombie apocalypse or B. Civil war 2

[@jackf3619]

This weapon is awesome

[@bestmayatours]

Wasnt that the one used to take out the civilians in the wikileaks video?

[@NM-pc1sy]

leave it to Northrop Grumman to design the tactical 1 ton truck to fight future conflicts

[@ewanchristopherpaterson1384]

I would love 2 thanks.

[@imransharif443]

Power full gun very nice

[@pasmadohunter1985]

Wow nice weapon😊

[@magicsinglez]

4 different weapons and radar. . .and no doubt some kind of computer to calculate where to fire. . .where the aircraft will be by the time the round arrives. . .that’s a lot for the crew to manage.

[@DroppingBombs4ever]

So the m240 would be replaced with the 30mm chain gun this freeing up inventory for military drone projects?

[@mikelindellspillow2609]

Looks like that gun the Millennium Falcon used on Hoth.

[@tubyduby2816]

It's like a mini 88mm flak cannon used in WW2. 5.56mm 6-barrel gun system could fill the gap just as well to counter small civi drones as well, kinda like a mini C-RAM system. I'd go for even smaller caliber like the 5.7 in the iconic P90 or the MP7 submachinegun. It should help protecting the already buffed out Abrams against drone grenade drop or kamikaze.

[@ichigo7223]

No way, more bullet does not equal effectiveness. drones are airborne meaning anything that misses comes back down on unintended targets. much better for airburst on a proven highly accurate weapon. i don't see more than 10% of weaponized infantry vehicles having this setup at any point in the future. seems too specialized and costly