Infantry Weapons

M134 Minigun

Also known as

M134
M134 machine gun
GAU-2A
GAU-17/A

The M134 Minigun is a U.S.-origin 7.62 mm electrically driven six-barrel rotary machine gun developed by General Electric for helicopter crews in Vietnam. It later spread to aircraft, vehicle, and boat mounts, and FN Herstal's HH-60W documentation identifies the 7.62 mm M134 as compatible with the rescue helicopter's window-mounted gun system.

M134 Minigun, 7.62 mm minigun, Infantry Weapons

Image source: HH-60G M134.jpg

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: General Electric
Type: 7.62 mm minigun
Service note: 1960s-present

rotary machine gunaircraft armament helicopter vehicle-mounted naval

Specifications

Caliber: 7.62x51 mm NATO / 7.62 mm
Configuration: Six-barrel electrically driven rotary machine gun
Rate of fire: Up to 6,000 rounds per minute
Mounting: Aircraft, helicopter doorway, or occasional vehicle mount
Power: Requires an external power source

Compatible Helicopters

FN Herstal says the HH-60W windows can mount the 7.62 mm M134 Minigun through the external mounted gun system.

Compatible item

Item type

Compatibility evidence

HH-60W Jolly Green II, Combat rescue helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

HH-60W Jolly Green II

Combat rescue helicopter

FN Herstal says the HH-60W windows can install the 7.62 mm M134 minigun through the external mounted gun system.

Sources: FN HH-60W EMGS, FN EMGS

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Mounted on helicopters, vehicles, and boats; compatible with HH-60W window mounts through FN's EMGS.

Media

M134 Minigun Images

M134 Minigun, 7.62 mm minigun, Infantry Weapons - view 1 — Source: M134 minigun mounted on a U.S. gun truck.jpg

M134 Minigun, 7.62 mm minigun, Infantry Weapons - view 2 — Source: M134 minigun mounted on a UH-1D helicopter from No. 9 Squadron, RAAF.jpg

Related Weapon Systems

GAU-2C mini-gun, 7.62 mm minigun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsGAU-2C mini-gun7.62 mm minigunThe GAU-2C mini-gun is a U.S. 7.62 mm electrically driven six-barrel minigun in the GAU-2 family. Air Force and DVIDS reporting documented the 41st Rescue Squadron testing it on the HH-60W Jolly Green II in March 2022, and rescue-helicopter coverage places the GAU-2C in the HH-60 weapon fit.

M134D Minigun, Externally powered 7.62 mm rotary machine gun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsM134D MinigunExternally powered 7.62 mm rotary machine gunThe M134D Minigun is Dillon Aero's modernized six-barrel 7.62x51 mm NATO rotary machine gun for aircraft, vehicle, ground, and maritime mounts. In the Battle of Marawi context, reporting and Philippine Marine Corps material document M134D mini-guns as U.S.-supplied counterterrorism equipment prioritized for Philippine Marines fighting IS-aligned militants.

20mm GIAT M693 autocannon, French 20 mm autocannon chambered for 20x139mm NATO rounds, Infantry Weapons

Infantry Weapons20mm GIAT M693 autocannonFrench 20 mm autocannon chambered for 20x139mm NATO roundsThe GIAT M693 is a French 20 mm autocannon family developed for vehicle armament and anti-aircraft use, with the navalized 20 mm modèle F2 derivative documented on French Navy minehunters such as the Éridan class. Weaponsystems.net identifies it as a M621-derived delayed-blowback gun with dual-belt feed and 20x139mm NATO ammunition, while NavWeaps traces the navalized 20F2 derivative into French Navy service in 1983 and Weaponsystems ties the GI2 production variant to South African use.

GAU-18/A machine gun, .50 caliber machine gun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsGAU-18/A machine gun.50 caliber machine gunThe GAU-18/A is a U.S. .50-caliber helicopter machine gun in the Browning M2/M3 family. Air Force testing ties it to HH-60W rescue-helicopter armament, and FN's EMGS system supports window-mounted installation on that airframe.

GAU-19 machine gun, machine gun, Infantry Weapons

Infantry WeaponsGAU-19 machine gunmachine gunFulcrum Concepts' GAU-19 machine gun is a lightweight three-barrel Gatling gun family for air, land, and sea mounts. The current weapon system uses .50 caliber M9-linked ammunition, electric drive, and roughly 1,300 rounds per minute.

CH-148 Cyclone, Maritime helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsCH-148 CycloneMaritime helicopterThe Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is Canada's shipboard maritime helicopter, a military derivative of the S-92 built by Sikorsky for Canadian service. Canadian procurement material describes the 28-aircraft program as an anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, overland, and utility helicopter with a 13,000 kg maximum take-off weight and 287 km/h top speed.

Sources

The M134 Minigun Was Designed for Helicopter Crews in the Vietnam War | War History OnlinePublisher: War History Online | Note: Supports M134 origin, General Electric development, 7.62 mm six-barrel electrically driven design, 6,000 rpm rate, and aircraft/helicopter/vehicle mounting context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 FN HH-60W EMGSPublisher: FN Herstal | Note: Supports HH-60W window-mounted compatibility with the 7.62 mm M134 minigun. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 FN EMGSPublisher: FN Herstal | Note: Supports the external mounted gun system and its compatibility with the 7.62 mm M134 minigun. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 HH-60G M134.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public image showing an M134 Minigun mounted on an HH-60G helicopter. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 M134 minigun mounted on a U.S. gun truck.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public image showing an M134 Minigun mounted on a U.S. gun truck. | Accessed: 2026-06-27 M134 minigun mounted on a UH-1D helicopter from No. 9 Squadron, RAAF.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a public image showing an M134 Minigun mounted on an Australian UH-1D helicopter. | Accessed: 2026-06-27