U.S. Navy awards contract to BAE Systems for production of Mk.38 Mod 3 machine guns.

BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., a business unit of Britain's biggest defense company BAE Systems, has awarded modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price supply contract valued at as much as $19,6 million for production of Mk.38 Mod 3 Machine Gun System (MGS).

Mk 38 MGS Mod 3 (Picture source: BAE Systems)

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced on 10 June that this contract is to fulfill specified requirements and technical performance requirements for the Mk.38 Mod.3 25mm MGS Ordnance Alteration and associated spares.

The Mk 38 MGS is a low cost, stabilized self-defense weapon system that dramatically improves ships' self-defense capabilities in all weather conditions, day or night. Installed aboard 14 different classes of U.S. Navy ships and U.S. Coast Guard cutters, it is used extensively by the U.S. military as well as by NATO forces. A major upgrade to the Mod 3 is the system’s advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor which provides 330-degree surveillance capability and three fields of view. The superior optics allow sailors to monitor the seas and respond to threats even in extremely low light conditions with the benefits of low contrast, low light level color day camera and an eye-safe laser range finder.

While the EO/IR sensor system is integrated with the Mod 3’s state-of-the-art fire control system, the Mk 38 Mod 3 is unique from other naval weapons because its surveillance system moves separately from the gun system, preventing adversaries from easily knowing they have been detected.

The Mk 38 Mod 3 also provides a range of 2.5 kilometers and selectable rates of fire from single to 180 rounds per minute, and fires all U.S. Navy-approved 25mm ammunition. It can be remotely operated from the combat information center or other protected ship structures, allowing operators to remain safe and out of harm’s way.