The US Army is testing a new way to protect tanks — and it looks like something out of an action movie: the legendary six-barreled "Minigun" (M134) was installed on the M1 Abrams turret instead of the usual M240 machine gun. The result? The tank can now fire at enemy infantrymen, drones, and "livestock" around it at a rate of up to 6,000 bullets per minute, which is almost 100 rounds per second.
The photos show how the M134 is mounted on a ring around the loader's hatch, where the standard 7.62mm M240 machine gun usually hangs. Although both weapons use the same cartridges (7.62 x 51 mm), their capabilities are like heaven and earth.
- M240 is a reliable but common machine gun: The rate of fire is 650-750 rounds per minute.
- A minigun is no longer a machine gun, but a firestorm: 6,000 rounds per minute, six rotating barrels and a sound like a saw.
Such power is especially useful in difficult terrain, such as urban neighborhoods, forests, or rough terrain where enemy snipers, saboteurs, or drones may suddenly appear from behind shelters. One pull on the trigger and the area around the tank becomes an "exclusion zone" for any live target.
Of course, the Minigun has drawbacks: it eats bullets like candy, requires external power (usually from the onboard network) and is more difficult to maintain. But in an environment where every shot can save the crew, such sacrifices are justified.
This is still a testing phase, but if the tests are successful, Miniguns may begin to appear en masse on new and upgraded Abrams. This is not just an improvement, it's a change of tactics: the tank is no longer just a direct—fire weapon, but also a mobile point of suppression.
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