Navy cannon gets coaxial enhancement
The US Navy is approximately half way through an enhancement effort that adds coaxial machine gun capabilities to its Mk38 weapon system.
Designed as a self-defence system against high speed manoeuvring targets, the Mk38 incorporates the M242 25mm 'Bushmaster' chain gun. Within US Navy and Coast Guard inventories, the system is currently installed aboard CG, CVN, DDG, FFG, LSD, LPD, LHD, LHA, LCC, MK VI, PC, OSV and USCG FRC class ships and planned for installation aboard AS and USCG offshore patrol cutter (OPC) class ships.
While the Mk38 provides a low cost, stabilised self-defence weapon system that dramatically
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