M134 Minigun

Also known as

M134
M134 machine gun
GAU-2A
GAU-17/A
GAU-2/A
GAU-2B/A
M134D
M134D-H
Mini Gun
Minigun

The M134 Minigun is a U.S.-origin 7.62x51 mm electrically driven six-barrel rotary machine gun developed by General Electric and fielded on helicopter and gunship armament subsystems during the Vietnam War. Later GAU-17/A and M134D-family installations kept the same high-density fire concept on helicopters, boats, vehicles, and rescue-aircraft mounts, including FN Herstal's HH-60W external mounted gun system compatibility.

M134 Minigun, 7.62 mm minigun, Infantry Weapons

Image source: HH-60G M134.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Side: United States and South Vietnam

U.S. Army historical coverage identifies the M134 in UH-1 M21 armament subsystems and AH-1 M18/M28 subsystems used in the Vietnam War, where Huey and Cobra gunships provided cover and direct aerial fire support.

Profile / Specs

Profile

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

Specifications

Caliber: 7.62x51 mm NATO
Configuration: Six-barrel electrically driven rotary machine gun
Rate of fire: M134D fixed rate of 3,000 rounds per minute; earlier M134/GAU-2 installations are commonly cited at up to 6,000 rounds per minute
Ammunition capacity: Installation-dependent; Dillon Aero lists magazines up to 4,000 rounds for the M134D
Mounting: Helicopter doorway, fixed-forward aircraft installation, gun pod, vehicle, boat, or crew-served mount depending on subsystem
Power: Externally powered electric rotary action
Modern M134D-H weight: 43.5 lb fixed-forward configuration; 52.5 lb crew-served configuration

Installation Notes

The M134 is less a stand-alone infantry-carried weapon than a powered gun installed into aircraft, vehicle, vessel, or crew-served subsystems. Vietnam-era UH-1 and AH-1 uses centered on armament packages that paired the minigun with rockets, grenade launchers, pods, or turret mounts; later GAU-17/A and M134D-family documentation shows the same 7.62 mm rotary-gun concept adapted to newer helicopter and force-protection roles.

Vietnam gunship role

UH-1 M21 systems combined M134 machine guns with 2.75-inch rocket launchers, while AH-1 M18 and M28 packages put the M134 in pods or nose-turret installations.

Modern production branch

Dillon Aero's M134D and M134D-H pages describe new-production or modernized 7.62x51 mm miniguns for fixed-forward, crew-served, helicopter, naval, vehicle, and special-operations applications.

Variants

M134-family designations separate the original General Electric gun, U.S. aircraft nomenclature, and later Dillon Aero modernization or lightweight production variants.

Variant	Configuration	Designation notes
GAU-2/A	U.S. Air Force aircraft designation	Designation-Systems lists the GAU-2/A as a General Electric 7.62 mm six-barrel minigun used with the SUU-11/A pod. Sources: Designation-Systems GAU Equipment Listing
GAU-17/A	Modified GAU-2/A helicopter and naval designation	Designation-Systems describes the GAU-17/A as a modified GAU-2/A 7.62 mm six-barrel minigun used on UH-1N, H-3, and H-60 platforms. Sources: Designation-Systems GAU Equipment Listing
GAU-2C mini-gun	Related GAU-2 family rescue-helicopter fit	The cataloged GAU-2C page covers a later HH-60 rescue-helicopter minigun configuration in the same 7.62 mm six-barrel family. Sources: Designation-Systems GAU Equipment Listing
M134D	Dillon Aero modernized production model	Dillon Aero lists new-production M134D miniguns and modernization kits for older General Electric GAU-2B/M134 guns. Sources: Dillon Aero M134D Standard
M134D-H	Hybrid lightweight model	Dillon Aero describes the M134D-H as a lightweight hybrid model with titanium and skeletonized parts, 43.5 lb fixed-forward weight, and 52.5 lb crew-served weight. Sources: Dillon Aero M134D-H Hybrid

Compatible Helicopters

The M134 family is documented across helicopter doorway, fixed-forward, and window-mounted installations; this section links cataloged platforms where the relationship is directly sourced.

Compatible item	Item type	Compatibility evidence
Black Hawk helicopter	Utility and assault helicopter family	Designation-Systems lists the GAU-17/A, a modified GAU-2/A 7.62 mm six-barrel minigun, as used on H-60 platforms. Sources: Designation-Systems GAU Equipment Listing
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

Compatible item

Item type

Compatibility evidence

Black Hawk helicopter

Utility and assault helicopter family

Designation-Systems lists the GAU-17/A, a modified GAU-2/A 7.62 mm six-barrel minigun, as used on H-60 platforms.

Sources: Designation-Systems GAU Equipment Listing

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

Timeline

M134 Minigun Key Events

Apr 20, 1965
UH-1 gunship proposals mature
Army historical coverage describes Vietnam-era WECOM work on modular UH-1 armament systems before later M21 installations combined M134 machine guns with 2.75-inch rocket launchers.
Sources: Army Huey and Cobra in Vietnam
Jan 1, 1967
AH-1 enters Vietnam service
The AH-1 entered service and deployed to Vietnam with M134-capable M18 and M28 armament subsystem options for gunship fire support.
Sources: Army Huey and Cobra in Vietnam, Redstone Aviation Systems
Apr 22, 2021
UH-1Y GAU-17 training footage
DVIDS documented HMLA-269 UH-1Y Venom helicopters providing close-air-support training with a GAU-17 minigun.
Sources: DVIDS M134 Minigun CAS Training