Northrop Grumman unveils Raid Hunter 50mm gun system to counter drone swarms

Published Aug 12, 07:02 AM UTC

Northrop Grumman has named its 50mm gun-based air defense system 'Raid Hunter', designed to defeat drone swarms and cruise missiles. The system pairs the company's Chain Gun with precision-guided 50mm ammunition and a networked controller, offering high rate of fire, deep magazines, and fast reloads as a cost-effective alternative to missile interceptors. Testing through the rest of 2026 will support accelerated fielding. The system is built on a modular palletized form factor for C-130 transport, with vehicle-mounted and container-based variants planned. Northrop Grumman cites the economic reality of drone warfare, where cheap drones can overwhelm expensive missile defenses, as driving the return of gun-based air defense. The 50mm chain gun is derived from the XM913 developed for the US Army's optionally manned fighting vehicle program.