Northrop Grumman's M230LF Dual-Feed Bushmaster lets crews switch instantly between two ammo types — the XM1198 high-explosive round for armored targets and the XM1211 30×113 mm proximity-fuzed round for drones — without reloading. The XM1211 detonates near small unmanned aircraft and disperses fragmentation to defeat them. Built on the decades-old Bushmaster platform, the Dual-Feed reduces response time when threats change, and the company is expanding production as the global counter-UAS market grows.
M230LF Dual-Feed Bushmaster: Instantly Switch Between Anti-Drone and Anti-Armor Rounds
M230LF Dual Feed Bushmaster switches between anti-drone and anti-armor ammo reloading
Northrop Grumman is fielding the M230LF Dual-Feed Bushmaster chain gun to meet rising battlefield demand for versatile counter-drone capabilities. The system allows crews to switch between two distinct ammunition types at the push of a button — one optimized for armored targets and a proximity-fuzed round engineered to defeat small, fast unmanned aircraft — without reloading or swapping weapons.
Ammunition Options
The M230LF can be fed with two ammunition types: the XM1198 and the XM1211. The XM1198 is a high-explosive round intended to defeat armored ground targets. The XM1211 is a 30×113 mm proximity-fuzed munition developed jointly with the U.S. Army for counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) missions.
The XM1211 carries an onboard proximity sensor and is designed to detonate when it detects a target within a set range, dispersing fragmentation to neutralize small, agile drones. That fragmentation approach addresses a core challenge in C-UAS engagements: scoring a direct hit on a small, fast-moving drone is difficult, so a near-miss with effective fragments is an acceptable and practical solution.
Operational Advantage
Traditional weapon systems force crews to decide which threat to prepare for before an engagement. The Dual-Feed architecture eliminates that trade-off: a single cannon can engage a drone overhead one moment and a hostile vehicle on the ground the next, with virtually no delay. When threats shift during combat, the ability to select the appropriate round instantly can be decisive.
Rylan Harris, Director of Business Development, Northrop Grumman Armament Systems: "Our advanced ammunition is demonstrating real-world effectiveness against drones and we're continuing to ramp production on these critically needed rounds to meet escalating global C-UAS threats. We built this technology because the need is real, and it's ready now to help protect those on the front lines."
Proven Platform and Production
The M230LF Dual-Feed builds on the long-established Bushmaster family of chain guns, which has more than five decades of operational history. Adding a dual-feed capability to a proven platform helps accelerate fielding compared with developing an entirely new weapon system.
Northrop Grumman is expanding production capacity for both the cannon and XM1211 ammunition by investing in equipment, facilities, and manufacturing tooling to boost output and shorten lead times as global demand for gun-based counter-drone systems increases.
Market Context
The global counter-UAS market was valued at roughly $6.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to exceed $20 billion by 2030 as governments worldwide accelerate investment in drone defenses. That market growth is one factor driving the company’s investments in production and supply chain resilience.
Bottom Line
The M230LF Dual-Feed Bushmaster pairs a trusted chain-gun architecture with a dual-ammo feed to give operators flexibility against mixed threats. With proximity-fuzed ammunition like the XM1211 and expanded production capacity, Northrop Grumman aims to deliver a near-term solution for rapidly evolving C-UAS needs.
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