M61 Vulcan

General Electric · Machine-Gun · In Service · 1959

Weight (empty)112500 g (3968.3 oz)
Overall Length1827 mm (71.93")
Barrel Length1520 mm (59.84")
Action TypeElectric Gatling
Firing MechanismExternally Powered
Muzzle Velocity1030 m/s (3379 fps)
Muzzle Energy54100 J (39902 ft·lbf)
Effective Range2000 m (2187 yd)
Frame MaterialSteel

Primary Caliber: 20x102mm

The M61 Vulcan is a six-barrel, 20x102mm electric Gatling-style autocannon developed by General Electric between 1946 and 1959 under the U.S. Air Force's Project Vulcan. It is the standard internal cannon of nearly all U.S. fighter aircraft built since the 1960s, including the F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-4 Phantom II (in pod and internal mountings), F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet, and F-22 Raptor. The cannon achieves a cyclic rate of 6,000 ...

Country of Origin: United States

Designer: General Electric Armament Systems Division