PLYMOUTH, Minn. — Northrop Grumman is advancing its M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun and specialized ammunition as militaries seek more effective solutions to counter the growing use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) on modern battlefields.
The company developed the dual-feed configuration to address changing battlefield requirements, where military forces must respond quickly to both aerial drone threats and ground targets. The system allows operators to switch instantly between two different ammunition types without stopping to reload or changing weapons, reducing response time as threats change during combat.
According to Northrop Grumman, drones are increasingly being used for intelligence collection, penetrating traditional defenses, and conducting precision attacks. Conventional weapon configurations often required operators to use mixed ammunition belts or separate weapon systems to engage different target types. The M230LF Dual Feed is designed to eliminate that limitation by enabling ammunition selection at the push of a button.
"Seeing the emerging needs of the warfighter as C-UAS threats evolve, our team moved with urgency," said Rylan Harris, director of business development for Northrop Grumman armament systems. "We saw where the battlefield was going and built a solution to meet it."
Dual-feed design for multiple battlefield threats
The M230LF Dual Feed is based on Northrop Grumman's Bushmaster family of chain guns, which evolved from the original M230 cannon used on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter and its ground-oriented M230LF variant.
Its primary feature is a dual-feed mechanism that provides two separate ammunition feed paths. Operators can select the appropriate round immediately without manually changing ammunition belts or replacing the weapon. This enables the same cannon to engage unmanned aircraft overhead and armored or vehicle targets on the ground using different ammunition.
Northrop Grumman said the system is intended to improve operational flexibility while simplifying engagement of multiple target types during combat operations.
Two ammunition types for different missions
The M230LF Dual Feed uses two 30×113 mm ammunition types developed by Northrop Grumman for different operational roles.
The XM1211 High Explosive Proximity round was developed with the U.S. Army specifically for counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missions. Equipped with a proximity sensor, the round detonates when it detects a target nearby rather than requiring a direct impact. The resulting fragmentation is intended to improve effectiveness against small, fast-moving drones that are difficult to hit directly.
Northrop Grumman said the XM1211 has demonstrated effectiveness against unmanned aircraft in real-world applications. If the proximity sensor does not detect a target, the round is designed to self-destruct at maximum range.
The second ammunition type, the XM1198 High-Explosive round, is designed to engage armored ground targets and hostile vehicles.
"We built this technology because the need is real — and it's ready now to help protect those on the front lines," Harris said. "In the end, defeating drones comes down to reliable capability and the Bushmaster Dual Feed with our proximity ammunition will win the fight."
Development and production
Northrop Grumman first unveiled the M230LF Dual Feed in October 2024. The company said the system reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, completed internal live-fire testing, and planned additional demonstrations.
The dual-feed cannon maintains a similar weight profile to the existing single-feed M230LF while sharing about 60 percent of its components with the earlier model. According to the company, this commonality is intended to simplify maintenance, reduce logistical requirements, and support existing operators. Northrop Grumman also confirmed it will continue producing the single-feed M230LF for customers who do not require the dual-feed capability.
The weapon has an adjustable firing rate of 50 to 200 rounds per minute.
The company said the M230LF Dual Feed is suitable for integration on remote weapon stations mounted on 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 land vehicles, and it has also been demonstrated on systems such as Saab's Trackfire remote weapon station fitted to the CB90 combat boat.
Northrop Grumman said the system is intended to provide a kinetic counter-UAS capability against Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aerial systems while retaining the ability to engage armored ground targets.
Expanding manufacturing capacity
As global demand for gun-based counter-drone systems continues to grow, Northrop Grumman is expanding production capacity for both the M230LF Dual Feed cannon and its associated ammunition.
The company said its investments include manufacturing equipment, production facilities, and tooling to increase output and reduce lead times.
"Our advanced ammunition is demonstrating real-world effectiveness against drones, and we're continuing to ramp production on these critically needed rounds to meet escalating global C-UAS threats," Harris said.
In December 2025, Northrop Grumman received a U.S. Army contract valued at more than $200 million to produce XM1211 High Explosive Proximity rounds. Production is taking place at company facilities in Minnesota, West Virginia, and Virginia.
By combining counter-drone and anti-armor capabilities within a single weapon system, Northrop Grumman is positioning the M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster Chain Gun as a flexible solution for military forces responding to evolving battlefield threats.
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