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Defense and Security Intelligence and Analysis: IHS Jane's

Airborne trials of MC-27J cannon to begin in new year

By Gareth Jennings

11/29/2012

Alenia Aermacchi and ATK are to shortly begin airborne trials of the Mk44 Bushmaster 30 mm automatic cannon aboard the concept MC-27J Spartan gunship, industry officials disclosed on 28 November.

Speaking at the IQPC Airpower in Irregular Warfare conference in London, Vice-President Special Projects US, UK, and Turkey Benjamin Stone said that, with ground trials of the gun having already concluded, airborne tests would commence in January 2013. He declined to say where these would occur, except to say it would be in the United States.

The ATK Mk44 Bushmaster, recently designated the GAU-23 by the US Air Force for integration on Lockheed Martin MC-130W Dragon Spear/Stinger II, is one of a number of retrofittable enhancements that Alenia Aermacchi is looking to integrate onto its C-27J tactical transport aircraft to give it a gunship and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability.

This enhanced C-27J was first showcased at the Farnborough Airshow in July and features a Mk44 cannon mounted on a cargo pallet for roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) operations, launch tubes for the employment of precision-guided munitions, and two electro-optic/infrared sensor turrets.

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The weaponised MC-27J on static display at the Farnborough Airshow 2012. The 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster/GAU-23 cannon can be seen protruding from the rear passenger door.
The weaponised MC-27J on static display at the Farnborough Airshow 2012. The 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster/GAU-23 cannon can be seen protruding from the rear passenger door.(IHS/Patrick Allen)

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