Dillon Aero

In the mid-1960s, General Electric designed and manufactured the GE Minigun. It was a derivative of the larger types the company produced for the fighter jets. Minigun saw service throughout the Vietnam War and a few years later. Those who knew the weapon knew how devastating it was. The army used them in UH1 Hueys, AH-6, AH-1 Cobras and even put Miniguns in trucks to protect convoys. The Navy used Miniguns on the river’s patrol boats and ships. The Air Force had mini-guns in the noses of A-37 Dragonfly jets, and they even installed three side guns on AC-47 trucks.

At the end of the war, however, production ceased. At that time, the M134’C ‘fought for decades, living off the stockpile of spare parts accumulated during the previous war. Eventually, the spare parts ran out. New parts sources were searched. These contracts were mainly with low-cost bidders who did not have an understanding of the actual operation of the weapon and produced parts of questionable quality. By the 1980s, spare parts were either worn out or mixed with bad parts. Many units therefore decided to give up their weapons for other less temperamental arms. Unfortunately they were also less effective weapons.

Who are they?

Dillon Aero has deployed more than 6,000 weapons systems in more than 30 countries. Dillon M134D and M134D-H became standard models in the U.S. and Allied forces in 2003. The company has worked tirelessly to improve all aspects of the system and installation. Dillons engineers have successfully integrated the M134D system with 18 different propeller platforms – that means more more than 400 airplanes. They brought the system to land vehicles and remotely operated weapon systems, and developed a fleet self-defense system for both large naval vessels and small boats.

Adapted to the Army, Navy and Air Force

On land, the M134D machine gun is currently used everywhere to send convoys, guard the border and secure important people. In the US Navy, machine guns are used to protect fleets moving in foreign deep and nearshore waters, including as firearms on special operations vessels. The M134D is mainly used in helicopters and can now be adapted to all military and civilian helicopters. As a modular system, it can be easily installed on any existing platform and works equally efficiently in the fixed direct position as well as in manual control. Due to its compact size, this light weapon ensures efficient performance wherever and whenever needed.

Since 2000, Dillon Aero product range has expanded to include the M134D, as well as the M240, M60, PKM and 0.50-caliber machine guns and the MK19 grenade launcher. A wide range of weapon mounts for helicopters, watercraft and land vehicles, and a comprehensive range of safety and support equipment for the Minigun machine gun.