“It is going to greatly improve the ship’s ability to counter modern threats,” said Danny Mudd, technical program lead for MK 38 Mod 4. “With the added caliber, we can reach farther and deliver more damage.”
Introduced in the late 1970s, the original MK 38 system was built around the 25mm MK 242 Bushmaster chain gun, a fully power-operated weapon mounted on the MK 88 support structure. Numerous upgrades in the years that followed saw improvements such as remote control operation and mount stabilisation; the introduction of modern electro-optical (EO)/infrared sensors and a laser rangefinder; improved ammunition handling; and integration of a 7.62mm coaxial chain gun.
The newest upgrade features several improvements, including the Northrop Grumman MK 44 Bushmaster II 30mm gun – now capable of employing air-burst munitions – integrated with the MK 48 Mod 2 EO sight system and the MK 134 Mod 0 operator console. This setup transforms the MK 38 Mod 4 into more powerful and more precise weapon system capable of handling modern threats.
