,
MINNEAPOLIS (DefenceTalk): BAE Systems delivered the first of 67 Mk 38 Mod 2 Machine Gun Systems to the U.S. Navy this week. The systems will be delivered from spring 2007 through March 2008 and are planned for a variety of U.S. Navy platforms, including Guided Missile Cruisers, Landing Ship Docks, and DDG Class ships.
The Mk 38 Mod 2 is a 25mm, remotely controlled gun system that provides the U.S. Navy with a lethal weapon to fulfill the critical role of ship self-protection. The system, with an effective range of more than 2000 meters, is highly autonomous and is proven against multiple surface threats.
“The Mk 38 Mod 2 team has demonstrated exceptional technical skill and initiative,” said Commander LaPointe, project manager of the Naval Gunnery Project Office for Integrated Warfare Systems. “They have provided outstanding support to the program and are providing the warfighter with a more capable machine gun system.”
Nine U.S. Naval ships currently have Mk 38 Mod 2 systems in service and have demonstrated excellent overall performance. The combined Mk 38 Mod 2 Government/contractor team recently completed a major upgrade to bring all mounts up to the current production configuration.
The Mk 38 Mod 2 main weapon is the M242 25mm Chain Gun, a proven NATO standard cannon with selectable rates of fire. The Mk 38 Mod 2 MGS fires all USN-approved 25mm ammunition at up to 180 rounds per minute, with 168 rounds on-mount. Additionally, the systems' 4-axis stabilized electro-optical sensor provides round the clock surveillance capability, enhancing the ship's overall mission effectiveness.
BAE Systems teamed with RAFAEL Armament Development Authority, Ltd., for the development and production of the Mk 38 Mod 2. The system is assembled and tested at BAE Systems' Louisville, Kentucky facility.
BAE Systems is a global defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions, and customer support services. BAE Systems, with 88,000 employees worldwide, had 2006 sales that exceeded $25 billion.
