Chain Gun Selected for Lithuanian 8×8 IFV
On 16 March, Orbital ATK announced that the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence has selected the company’s MK44 BUSHMASTER Chain Gun as the armament for the Lithuanian Army’s VILKAS 8×8 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The weapon will support air burst ammunition, giving users the capability of defeating enemies in protected positions.
The company will deliver the first MK44 in mid-2017. When complete, Orbital will have supported the integration of 90 guns with the Rafael SAMSON MKII Remote Weapons Station (RWS). The guns come prepared to use Orbital ATK’s 30mm MK310 Programmable Air Bursting Munitions (PABM) for precise, point-in-space burst to defeat enemy targets in defilade positions. The cartridge offers air-burst, point-detonate and point-detonate with delay fuze settings. The PABM cartridge can provide lethal suppressive fire through its air-burst function or penetrate light-armor vehicles or reinforced concrete walls, and its delay function allows the round to penetrate a wall or fortified structure and burst on the other side, reducing collateral damage while increasing effectiveness.
“With an installed base approaching 2,000 cannons worldwide, our MK44 is sought after for its proven reliability and effectiveness by our allies fielding new systems or needing to upgrade existing platforms to meet growing threats,” Dan Olson, Vice President and General Manager for the Armament Systems Division of Orbital ATK’s Defense Systems Group, informed MT. “Our guns represent a commitment to working together with our nation and our allies to create and deliver superior armaments and services for those who defend their nation’s security.”
