The Dillon Aero M134D is one of the most reliable weapons in the world, given its capacity, simplicity in loading, and ease of maintenance. Designed for speed and accuracy, the M134D is a true force multiplier. The rapidity of shooting is of the utmost importance: only guns as rapid as the M134D can achieve the extreme shot density needed to suppress multiple targets in compressed periods of time. Additionally, the M134D is virtually free of recoil. When properly mounted, it moves slightly aft with the first shot, without any tendency to pitch or yaw. This stability is vital, in that it significantly assists in the aiming on and retention of a target. High rates of fire, extremely dense shot grouping, and high weapon stability demonstrate the perfect pairing of swiftness and precision.
The M134D is the standard Minigun in use with US ground forces. The weapon’s robust construction provides for an exceptionally long service life which numbers in the millions of rounds. The M134D is primarly used in ground and naval enviornments, whereas the M134D-H is used on aviation platforms.
The Minigun’s high rate of fire is the source of its exceptional accuracy and threat suppression capabilities. The system is electrically powered by either a 24 Volt DC battery or vehicle power. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, the Minigun fires at an impressive rate of 3,000 shots per minute. This rate of fire is divided between the weapon’s six barrels, resulting in a firing rate of only 500 shots per minute per barrel. This is less than that of any single barreled machine gun.
When firing any weapon, especially machine guns, there is a risk of error due to movement in three key areas: platform, gun, and target. Movement error becomes more pronounced as the range to target increases. The M134D is able to counter movement error by increasing the number of shots per second, thus reducing the amount of time between each observed impact. The advantage of the M134D is that it is electronically driven, making it virtually recoilless. Furthermore, because of the combined effects of high rate of fire, extremely dense shot grouping, and high weapon stability, the M134D maximizes its effectiveness to a range of 1,200 meters. The multi-barrel design of the M134D ensures that each barrel only experiences a 500 round per minute rate of fire. This allows for repeated long bursts of fire and a barrel group life of approximately 100,000 rounds (depending on the firing schedule). In the unlikely event of a stoppage, the weapon can be serviced and made operational again in under a minute. A system life in excess of 1,500,000 rounds is an undisputable testament to the weapon’s dependability. The efficiency of the M134D reduces the number of weapons to cover a target area. Fewer guns mean fewer personnel to man them, which in turn requires fewer supporting platforms. This translates into significant cost savings. As such, it’s no surprise that the M134D or component systems are currently employed by all branches of the U.S. military and in more than 30 countries. On land, the M134D is presently deployed worldwide for convoy escort, border patrol, and VIP protection. In the naval role, Miniguns are utilized in force protection on the U.S. and foreign blue water and riverine fleets, as well as fire support weapons on Special Operations boats. Notably, the M134D is most predominantly used in helicopters, and is now customizable to most military and commercial helicopters. As a modular system, it is easily adaptable to many existing platforms, and performs equally well in the Fixed Forward Fire or Crew-Served modes. Dillon Aero currently delivers new production M134D Miniguns, and offers Modernization Kits for older generation General Electric GAU-2B/M134 Miniguns.
