Northrop Grumman has put Raid Hunter’s 50mm ammunition in flight, firing test rounds from an XM913 Chain Gun as it develops a gun-based answer to mass aerial attacks.
The test took place at Virginia’s Potomac River Test Range. According to the company, nearly every shot yielded detailed flight data that matched its pre-test predictions.
The results will inform development of a proximity-fuzed 50mm round intended for use against cruise missiles, drones, and other aerial threats.
Northrop did not report an interception during the test.
“Designed to help address the growing challenge of defeating large numbers of aerial threats, Raid Hunter provides a scalable and cost-effective short-range solution designed to defeat mass mixed raids and help close gaps in short-range defense capability,” the company stated.
Raid Hunter in Detail
Raid Hunter pairs a Chain Gun and 50mm ammunition with networked controllers and battle-management software.
Its high rate of fire, deep ammunition supply, and rapid reloads are intended to support repeated engagements during large-scale attacks.
The system has a modular, palletized design for transport aboard C-130 aircraft.
Vehicle-mounted and container-based configurations are also planned.
Built for Mass Raids
Raid Hunter is part of Northrop’s broader Raid Defense Solutions portfolio, which includes counter-drone and air defense systems.
The portfolio is designed to help forces detect threats, make engagement decisions, and coordinate responses when multiple aerial targets approach at once.
