Northrop Grumman to deliver XM813 guns for US Army’s Stryker ICVs

Northrop Grumman has secured a contract to deliver XM813 Bushmaster Chain Guns for US Army’s Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs).

The contract is a part of the Stryker Medium Caliber Weapon System 30mm Lethality Upgrade programme.

The company has already received an order to supply 95 chain guns, the deliveries of which are set to begin in early 2022.

Northrop Grumman Bushmaster Chain Guns director Jennifer Zonneveld said: “We are committed to ensuring our US warfighter remains ahead of emerging threats, and the XM813 will deliver overmatch and greater standoff range for Stryker crews.

“We have a long history working alongside the US Army and CCDC-AC to deliver advanced capabilities and we look forward to supporting the Stryker programme into the future.”

A derivative of Mk44 Bushmaster Chain Gun, the XM813 is a 30x173mm calibre cannon capable of firing Northrop Grumman’s MK310 Programmable Air Bursting Munition (PABM) with air-burst, point-detonate and point-detonate with delay fuze settings to neutralise different targets.

Initially, the chain guns were deployed with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment’s Stryker fleet based in Germany to meet urgent operational requirements.

The current contract will deliver XM813 to an additional US Army Brigade Combat Team.

Northrop Grumman will utilise its facility in Mesa, Arizona, US, to produce these chain guns.

In October, the US Army tested the new capabilities of the Stryker Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) vehicle.

The upgrades included enabling the crew to transfer images, reports and cue targets between vehicle platforms and within the platoon to boost operational effectiveness.