Dillon Aero has developed a maritime, corrosion-resistant version of its M134D minigun in an attempt to make a dent in the Asian market, according to a company official.
Dillon Aero International Business Development Director Randy Nance told Defense Daily Oct. 4 that the Pacific Rim market is a growth opportunity for the company as there is big demand for coastal security. Nance said Wednesday in an email that the marinized version of the M134D, the M134D-M, came about after numerous requests and inquiries for a system that would stand up to the salt and open air environments like those found in southeast Asia.
Dillon Aero is well-known for its M134D minigun, a six-barrel, electrically-fed weapon that Nance said shoots 50 .762 caliber rounds per second, or 3,000 per minute. Nance said the M134D is used by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Many of the gun components of the M134D-M, including the barrels, will be coated with Cerakote, a polymer-ceramic composite coating that can be applied to plastics, polymers and wood.
The hardware in the M134D-M will be stainless steel and/or treated for resistance to corrosion. The marinized M134D has been tested in accordance with MIL-STD-810G, method 509.5 salt fog and will consist of: marinized clutch assembly, feeder/delinker, heavy barrels, gun assembly, brass/link exhaust, booster assembly and ammunition can. It will also feature a titanium rotor assembly.
Nance, at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) trade show in Washington, said he believes the M134D-M will have good application for Pacific Rim use as maritime forces have had issues with .50 caliber rounds. These rounds, he said, go through the boat they are shooting at or trying to defend against because there is nothing to stop the round. Nance said, on the other hand, the .762 round will hit the target and stop, it won’t penetrate and continue. Nance said this also makes the .762 round good for use around civilians.
Nance said in his email that the company rolled out the final version of the M134D-M for production in the May/June timeframe and is currently fielding a number of requests for quotes for the weapon. He said the M134D-M will be a big seller in Asian markets as Dillon Aero believes no other weapon system can provide the accuracy, reliability or low cost of ownership as the M134D, in addition to the corrosion resistant feature many users are looking for. Nance said, with proper maintenance, the M134D can fire 2.5 million rounds between replacement and that the company has miniguns in service that were sold between 10 and 13 years ago.
Dillon Aero has also teamed with Norwegian-manufacturer Kongsberg to create a maritime remote weapon station (RWS) featuring Dillon Aero’s M134D that can be fired from a distance or within a boat or vehicle. RWSs are attractive, for example, because a gunner can stay protected and fire the weapon as opposed the traditional method of firing the gun, by standing out of the vehicle or boat, leaving the gunner exposed to enemy fire.
Nance said Dillon Aero has been approached by other companies looking to use its M134D in a RWS, but the company is picky because the integration of the minigun into a RWS can be difficult. Though Dillon Aero has chosen to only work with Kongsberg so far, Nance said Dillon Aero might be open to working with other companies in the future. He said other companies that develop RWS include Rafael and IMI Systems, formerly known as Israel Military Industries, among others.