- Side
- Coalition forces
U.S. Army Bradleys fought in Operation Desert Storm with the vehicle's 25 mm automatic gun; GAO's early performance assessment discussed the Bradley 25 mm gun's battlefield range and target-identification limits.
Role detailsArmored Vehicles
M242 Bushmaster
Also known as
- M242
- M242 25 mm Bushmaster
- 25 mm Bushmaster
- Bushmaster 25mm chain gun
- M242 Bushmaster chain gun
The M242 Bushmaster is a U.S. 25x137 mm chain-driven autocannon used as the main gun on Bradley and LAV armored vehicles and as the gun element in Mk 38 naval weapon systems. Its externally powered dual-feed design lets crews select ammunition types for direct fire against personnel, light armor, vehicles, and small surface threats; Bradley crews have used the weapon in the Gulf War, Iraq War, and Russia-Ukraine War.
Role in Conflicts
M242-armed Bradleys served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Army acquisition reporting tied Bradley Fighting Vehicle 25 mm ammunition to first combat use during the campaign.
Role details- Side
- Ukraine
Ukrainian M2 Bradley crews used the 25 mm Bushmaster cannon in direct-fire engagements during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, including a documented January 2024 fight in which Bradleys disabled a Russian T-90M near Stepove.
Role detailsAmmunition And Fire Selection
The Bushmaster's dual-feed arrangement is central to how Bradley crews use it: one feed path can carry high-explosive ammunition while the other can carry armor-piercing ammunition, letting the gunner choose a better round for light armor, personnel, or exposed systems.
| Feature | Why it matters | Source-backed context |
|---|---|---|
| External power | The gun does not rely on gas or recoil energy to cycle. | Northrop Grumman and Army training material frame the M242 around an externally powered chain-gun operating system. |
| Dual feed | Supports rapid selection between ammunition types. | TWZ's Ukraine analysis describes Bradley gunners selecting between high-explosive and armor-piercing sabot ammunition depending on target. |
| Selectable fire | Allows single or multiple-shot engagements. | The same Ukraine analysis highlights the rapid-fire effect of the Bushmaster during a close engagement with a T-90M. |
| Combat ammunition | Gives the gun armor-piercing and explosive effects beyond a generic automatic cannon. | Army acquisition reporting described M919 25 mm ammunition for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle entering actual combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Built by
- Northrop Grumman
- Type
- 25 mm chain gun autocannon
- Service note
- Cold War design in modern Bradley and naval service
- Number built
- More than 11,000 delivered across Bradley, LAV, naval, and other applications according to Northrop Grumman.
Specifications
- Caliber
- 25x137 mm
- Operating principle
- Externally powered, chain-driven automatic cannon
- Feed system
- Dual feed for selectable ammunition types
- Rate of fire
- Selectable single-shot, low-rate automatic, or high-rate automatic fire; commonly cited around 100-200 rounds per minute in Bradley use
- Effective range
- About 2,500-3,000 m depending on mount, ammunition, and target
- Gun weight
- About 119 kg / 262 lb
- Primary vehicle application
- M2/M3 Bradley family and LAV-25 25 mm main gun
- Naval application
- Mk 38 Mod 2 and Mod 3 shipboard 25 mm weapon systems
Variants
The M242 is most often distinguished by its installation: vehicle turret guns on Bradley-family and LAV platforms, and naval Mk 38 mounts that package the same 25 mm gun for ship self-defense.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bradley turret installation | Tracked fighting-vehicle main gun | Army reporting identifies the Bradley's fire-support armament as a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, paired with TOW missiles and a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun. Sources: Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotation |
| LAV-25 turret installation | Wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle gun | Northrop Grumman lists the LAV-25 among the M242's primary applications, reflecting the same 25x137 mm Bushmaster gun adapted to a wheeled armored platform. |
| Mk 38 Mod 2 / Mod 3 installation | Shipboard 25 mm weapon-system gun | U.S. Navy and BAE Systems material describe Mk 38 as a 25 mm ship-defense weapon system; BAE's Mod 3 data sheet identifies the M242 Bushmaster as the main gun. Sources: MK 38 - 25 mm Machine Gun System, Mk 38 Mod 3 Machine Gun System - BAE Systems |
Carrier Vehicles
The cataloged Bradley-family vehicles use the M242 as the turret's 25 mm direct-fire gun alongside missiles and a coaxial machine gun; other installations include LAV-25 turrets and Mk 38 naval mounts.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Tracked infantry fighting vehicle | The Bradley's standard armament package includes a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun; the M2 Bradley record covers the troop-carrier IFV variant. Sources: Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotation |
 | Tracked cavalry fighting vehicle | The M3 cavalry variant shares the Bradley-family 25 mm chain-gun armament while adapting the vehicle for reconnaissance and scout carriage. Sources: M2A3 and M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (BFVS) |
Installation Context
The M242 is a common gun element inside larger weapon systems. Armored vehicles use it for stabilized direct fire, while naval Mk 38 mounts adapt the same 25 mm class to ship self-defense against small surface threats.
| Installation | Documented role | Catalog context |
|---|---|---|
| M2 Bradley | 25 mm main gun for troop transport, fire support, and light-armor engagements. | |
| M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle | Bradley-family scout vehicle retaining the 25 mm chain-gun armament. | |
| LAV-25 | Wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle turret gun in the same 25x137 mm Bushmaster family. | Related vehicle; no separate catalog page in this record set. |
| Mk 38 naval weapon system | Shipboard 25 mm gun system for fast attack craft, fast inshore attack craft, and close surface threats. | Related naval mount; no separate catalog page in this record set. |
Timeline
M242 Bushmaster Key Events
M242 enters Army training lineage
Army professional writing describes the introduction of the M242 25 mm automatic cannon in 1980.
Sources: M242 Bushmaster Gun Theory
Bradley 25 mm gun used in Desert Storm
GAO's early Desert Storm assessment discussed the Bradley 25 mm gun's battlefield range and target-identification limits during the 1990 Gulf War.
Sources: Operation Desert Storm: Early Performance Assessment of Bradley and Abrams
Bradley 25 mm ammunition enters combat in Iraq
Army acquisition reporting linked Bradley Fighting Vehicle 25 mm ammunition to first combat use during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sources: Providing Decisive Lethality for the Army's Go-to-War Weapons
Ukraine Bradley fight analyzed
TWZ analyzed video of Ukrainian Bradleys using the 25 mm Bushmaster in a close-range engagement with a Russian T-90M near Stepove.
Sources: Armor Experts Breakdown Video Of Ukrainian M2 Bradley Mauling Russian T-90M Tank
Army summarizes Bradley armament
A U.S. Army article on M2A3 Bradleys in Europe identified the vehicle's 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, TOW launcher, and M240C machine gun.
Sources: Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotation
Army publishes M242 gun-theory article
The Army described TC 3-20.31-242 as a Bradley commander and gunner reference for M242 operation, maintenance, and crew mastery.
Sources: M242 Bushmaster Gun Theory
Media
M242 Bushmaster Videos
M242 Bushmaster Images
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Northrop Grumman M242 25mm Bushmaster Chain GunPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports manufacturer background and core M242 technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Northrop Grumman 25x137mm Bushmaster Chain GunPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports manufacturer background, delivery count, external-power operating principle, caliber, and primary applications including Bradley, LAV-25, and Mk 38 installations. | Accessed: 2026-06-30M242 Bushmaster Gun TheoryPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports M242 service/training background, Bradley commander and gunner context, gun-operation framing, and primary image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Over 100 Bradleys from 405th AFSB, TLSC-E issued to Cavalry Soldiers for Poland rotationPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports Bradley armament context, including the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, TOW launcher, M240C machine gun, troop capacity, and U.S. Army image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Operation Desert Storm: Early Performance Assessment of Bradley and AbramsPublisher: U.S. General Accounting Office | Note: Supports 1990 Gulf War direct conflict-use: Bradley crews employed the vehicle's 25 mm automatic gun during Operation Desert Storm. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Providing Decisive Lethality for the Army's Go-to-War WeaponsPublisher: Army AL&T | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct conflict-use: Army acquisition reporting described Bradley Fighting Vehicle 25 mm M919 ammunition as used in actual combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Armor Experts Breakdown Video Of Ukrainian M2 Bradley Mauling Russian T-90M TankPublisher: TWZ | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use: Ukrainian Bradleys used the 25 mm Bushmaster/M242 in a close-range direct-fire engagement near Stepove. | Accessed: 2026-06-29MK 38 - 25 mm Machine Gun SystemPublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports Mk 38 naval weapon-system role and shipboard self-defense context for 25 mm gun applications. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Mk 38 Mod 3 Machine Gun System - BAE SystemsPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports Mk 38 Mod 3 installation context identifying the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster as the main gun. | Accessed: 2026-06-29M2A3 and M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (BFVS)Publisher: Federation of American Scientists | Note: Supports M2/M3 Bradley-family armament and relationship context for the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle. | Accessed: 2026-06-29U.S. Army Soldiers Conduct Operations in the Middle EastPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports gallery image provenance for M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicles carrying Bradley-family 25 mm armament. | Accessed: 2026-06-29