Northrop Grumman unveils Raid Hunter 50mm SHORAD system

Credit: Northrop Grumman — Image of the XM913 50mm gun, which will be integrated on the U.S. Army XM30 IFV.

Northrop Grumman announced the development of a 50mm gun-based system during the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, on August 11, 2026.

The palletized system, named Raid Hunter, is designed to address a short-range air defense (SHORAD) gap by neutralizing a mix of threats, including uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and cruise missiles.

However, the concept remains far from operational reality, as an operational prototype is not expected until the summer of 2027.

System Overview

Northrop Grumman will repackage its Bushmaster Chain Gun into a modular, transportable weapon system capable of firing 50mm precision-guided rounds. The system is intended to counter what the company describes as "mass, mixed raids" comprising high-priority aerial threats.

Key features include:

• Precision-guided munitions with proximity fuses, capable of mid-air steering adjustments to hit moving targets
• Small-salvo launches for interception
• AiON C2 software for detecting and responding to different UAS classes
• Jam-free, controllable fire via chain-gun technology

Northrop declined to disclose what seeker the rounds will use.

Cost and Deployment Strategy

• One production round is expected to cost in the four-digit price range
• The palletized system will cost approximately half the price of a missile battery
• Raid Hunter is designed to operate in batteries, delivering overlapping coverage and high-volume engagement capacity

Strategic Context

Russian salvos against Ukrainian cities demonstrate the multi-angled, low-cost strike tactics used in contemporary warfare. The Institute for the Study of War reports that Moscow aims to maximize the size of a single salvo from 77 to 200 missiles of various types.

These saturation tactics are prompting Western defense companies to reduce the cost imbalance to more sustainable levels. While Lockheed Martin focuses on reducing the cost of sophisticated missiles, Northrop aims to improve anti-air artillery, which is already cheaper and capable of engaging mass strikes.

Technology and Platform

The Raid Hunter system will likely use the 50mm XM913 gun, which the U.S. Army has selected for its XM30 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), replacing the aging M2 Bradley.

The Bushmaster family includes various calibers and primarily functions as autocannons for different U.S. Army vehicles, along with smaller machine gun variants.

Northrop is not the first company to extend a gun turret into a deployable weapon system. Germany's Rheinmetall developed the Skyranger 30 turret, which can serve as a standalone counter-drone system or be mounted atop an armored vehicle such as the Lynx IFV.

Development Timeline

• Current status: Raid Hunter has only been tested in a simulated environment. All elements have been tested "to some degree," according to a Northrop executive.
• Testing schedule: Northrop is committed to a "high-paced" test schedule, with one test per month over the next year.
• Operational prototype: Expected delivery in summer 2027.

Credit: Northrop Grumman — Computer-generated image of a precision-guided 50mm round on track to intercept a cruise missile.