ATK Develops Enhanced 30/40mm Mk44 Bushmaster Cannon System
ATK’s Enhanced 40mm Cannon System Offers a Cost Effective, Compact and Lightweight Solution for Ground Combat Vehicles.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN –-(AmmoLand.com)- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK), developer of the combat-proven 30/40mm Mk44 Bushmaster cannon system, has enhanced the system’s effectiveness and performance to accommodate integration into various ground combat vehicles, including the United Kingdom’s Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
The enhanced cannon offers various vehicle mount and feed configurations, with either the traditional bayonet mount with a single recoil damper and linked feeder, or with a bespoke integral mount with dual recoil dampers and linkless feeder. The linkless feed system is driven from the cannon’s integral electric motor and feeder gearing, eliminating the need for a separate magazine drive motor and associated burden on the vehicles’ electrical system.
The enhanced cannon utilizes a modified 30mm Mk44 with additional recoil stroke capacity that reduces recoil loads associated with 40mm x 180mm (“Super 40”) ammunition. The cannon can be easily upgraded to fire Super 40 ammunition with simple component changes by the end user.
Technical maturity of Super 40 ammunition was proven on the Mk44 during the U.S. Army’s Advanced Light Armament for Combat Vehicles (ALACV) program, initiated to evaluate increased lethality in medium-caliber cannons. The ALACV program included live-fire tests of Target Practice-Tracer (TP-T), Programmable Airbust Munition (PABM), and Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot – Tracer (APFSDS-T) rounds and demonstrated a technology readiness level six (TRL-6) in 2003. Subsequent development of the “Super 40” system (cannon and ammunition) resulted in a common 180mm case design for both the full and sub-caliber rounds. The overall round design significantly improves system performance, accuracy, and reduced barrel wear.
As with previous Mk44 cannons, the enhanced cannon system is compatible with ATK’s PABM, and offers the user increased tactical flexibility and greater lethality as compared to conventional high-explosive ammunition.
ATK has applied its integrated weapon systems capability to develop the most cost effective, compact and lightweight 40mm cannon system available today. A live fire demonstration of the Super 40 system is planned by December 2009.
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ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.