Northrop Grumman Integrating Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster® Chain Guns® with Australia’s Next Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Mesa, Ariz. – June 4, 2024 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is partnering with Hanwha Defense Australia to supply Mk44 Stretch Bushmaster® Chain Guns® (Mk44S) for integration on the Hanwha Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
As part of Australia’s LAND 400 Phase 3 program, the contract calls for the production of 129 chain guns with initial deliveries beginning in 2026.
The Mk44S enables interoperability with Northrop Grumman’s advanced ammunition suite, developed for the U.S. Army, and includes the new programmable air burst munition, providing Australia with the most advanced ammunition technology.
More than 20,000 Bushmaster Chain Guns are in service with 65 allied nations’ land, air and sea-based combat platforms worldwide.
Expert:
Jennifer Zonneveld, director, Bushmaster Chain Guns, Northrop Grumman: “Bushmaster Chain Guns are the automatic cannon of choice for customers around the world due to their performance and reliability. In partnership with the Hanwha-led Team Redback, Northrop Grumman is providing the Australian Army with the most advanced medium caliber capability in the world, maintaining the system’s relevancy for years to come.”
Details:
This program will continue the Bushmaster legacy in Australia, as chain guns are currently integrated on the Australian Defence Force’s land, air and sea-based combat platforms.
Northrop Grumman’s advanced ammunition suite includes the multifunction airburst munition, armor piercing and proximity fuzed ammunition, allowing crewmembers to defeat a broad range of ground and aerial threats by selecting the optimal ammunition at a moment’s notice.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.
Photo courtesy Hanwha Defense Australia
