M61 Vulcan

M61 Vulcan
An unmounted M61A1 Vulcan with flash suppressor used in the SUU-16/A gun pod
TypeRotary cannon
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1959–present
Used byUnited States, some NATO members, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and others
Wars
Production history
DesignerGeneral Electric
Designed1946
ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics
VariantsSee below
Specifications
Mass
  • M61A1: 248 lb (112 kg)
  • M61A2: 202 lb (92 kg) (light barrel), 228 lb (103 kg) (heavy barrel)
Length71.93 in (1.827 m)
Barrel length59.8 in (1.52 m)

Cartridge20×102mm Vulcan
Caliber20 mm (0.787 in)
Barrels6-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves)
ActionHydraulically operated, electrically fired, rotary cannon
Rate of fire6,000 rounds per minute[1]
Muzzle velocity3,450 ft/s (1,050 m/s) with PGU-28/B round
Effective firing rangeAbout 9,842 ft (3,000 m)
Feed systemBelt or linkless feed system

The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically, electrically, or pneumatically driven, six-barrel, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm × 102 mm (0.787 in × 4.016 in) rounds at an extremely high rate (typically 6,000 rounds per minute). The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft for over sixty years.[2]

The M61 was originally produced by General Electric. After several mergers and acquisitions, it is produced by General Dynamics as of 2000.[2]

  1. ^ "» 20mm M61A1/M61A2 Gatling Gun".
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference fas_m61 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).