M230 chain gun

M230 Cannon
M230 chain gun firing from an AH-64D-I Apache Longbow
Type	Chain gun
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1983–present
Used by	United States, and other countries
Wars	Persian Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Production history
Designer	Hughes Helicopters[1]
Designed	1973[1]
Manufacturer	Hughes Helicopters (1975–1985)[1][2] McDonnell Douglas Helicopters (1985–2002)[2] Alliant Techsystems (2002–2015)[2] Orbital ATK (2015–2018)[2] Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (from 2018)[2]
Produced	Since 1975[1]
Variants	M230LF
Specifications
Mass	59.5 kg (130 lb)[3]
Length	2,181 mm (85.9 in)[3]
Width	277.2 mm (10.9 in)[3]
Height	288.8 mm (11.4 in)[3]
Shell	30×113 mmB M788 Target Practice (TP) M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) M799 High Explosive Incendiary (HEI)
Caliber	30 millimetres (1.18 in) caliber
Action	Open bolt
Rate of fire	625±25 rpm[3]
Muzzle velocity	805 m/s (2,641 ft/s)
Effective firing range	1,500 m (1,640 yd)[4]
Maximum firing range	4,000 m (4,370 yd)[5]

The M230 Cannon is a 30 mm (30×113 mm), single-barrel electrically-driven autocannon, using external electrical power (as opposed to recoil or expanding gas generated by the firing cartridge) to cycle the weapon between shots. It was designed and manufactured originally by Hughes Helicopters in Culver City, California.^[1] As of 2019^[update], it is produced by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.^[3]