Since this new fuze has different modes that can be selected from the cockpit, it should be quite useful (and certainly would have been in general over the past 20 years). I like that the USMC is starting to incorporate 30x113, and while it's limited to a niche role presently I hope someone in a position of authority has the foresight to consider incorporating it more widely. 

Specifically, I'd like to see them revisit upgunning the Cobra.  The current generation Viper is almost twice as heavy as the original Cobra, and heavier than the Apache, it should be able to handle the M230 recoil impulse significantly better than the original.





For what it's worth, I'd also really like to see the AAV-7's Cadillac-Gage 1 meter turret replaced fleetwide with a 30x113 RWS and twin Javelin (or better, Spike) launcher.  The biggest consideration here is how the system copes with saltwater exposure, but beyond that it should be a huge step up in capability with low risk as both systems are already matured.

As far as drones go, in place of the 7.62 it should be straightforward to incorporate 2.4/5.8 ghz directional jammer with a yagi antenna which will at minimum be able to sever the control link to the drone (and ideally data / video), these sort of jammers are already available in handheld form presently and can also be supplemented with a general 2.4/5.8 Ghz area jammer, which should address most modern off the shelf consumer drones.  That leaves drones made to deliberately operate off typical frequencies, but there are ways of addressing that too and it narrows down the pool of threats.

Once the control link is jammed, these consumer drones will follow pre-planned contingency procedure upon loss of control link (hover, land, or go home) any one of which should make it an easier target.  The real pain is detection and cueing.   If we have some room to play around with it, search and track can be done actively via MMW radar arrays developed for APS, or passively via wide angle staring IIR sensors (which you might want to incorporate anyway as part of an ATGM missile approach warning system), all of which can be integrated onto the RWS.

DavidPawley said:

Bofors 3P (now BAE https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/fuze-3p-ammunition) prefragmented programmable proximity fuzed

Man, I had completely failed to retain that one of the P's in 3P was for Proximity. So clearly, this new 30x113mm Prox is not the only modern proximity autocannon round.

Now I wonder if we'll see them adapt it to having full 3P capability / allow it to function in timed airburst. 

Refleks said:

As far as drones go, in place of the 7.62 it should be straightforward to incorporate directional jamming with a yagi antenna which will at minimum be able to sever the control link to the drone (and ideally data / video).

This sounds very practical and worthwhile.

Though I admit to fantasizing about them using a MG42/MG3 coax with the 1200rpm bolt to allow for high ROF drone swatting... 

In regards to the Cobra, switching from 20mm to 30mm seems like a no brainer if it can be successfully integrated. Much more useful as an anti personnel round, especially with this latest AB rounds. The Apaches were reportedly having poor terminal effects with their 30mm because the rounds would penetrate a bit into the ground prior to detonation, which greatly reduced their fragmentation effect. I imagine the problem would be even worse with the 20mm - same ground penetration but way less HE/Frag. 

Refleks said:

Specifically, I'd like to see them revisit upgunning the Cobra.  The current generation Viper is almost twice as heavy as the original Cobra, and heavier than the Apache, it should be able to handle the M230 recoil impulse significantly better than the original.

So right after you posted this, I came across the Army's work on their new Helicopter systems....where they specifically request a 20mm:

https://www.army.mil/article/236140/future_recon_aircraft_competition_moves_forward_featuring_a_20mm_gatling_gun_developed_at_picatinny

FARA CP will feature a lightweight primary armament system with rapid-fire capability to engage targets of opportunity and provide defensive fires without excessive payload and impulse considerations to the airframe.

“Thousands of modeling and simulation runs played weapon configurations on a representative aircraft in combat-derived scenarios to establish trends,” said Daniel DiMartino, acting FVL Science and Technology Lead at the Armaments Center. “These trends consider the aircraft elevation and position, weapon rate of fire and accuracy, ammunition characteristics, and target type to provide engineering data that informs product development.”

Engineers have found that a 20mm Gatling weapon provides sufficient range and lethality while minimizing system weight and forces applied to the FARA airframe.

So much so that Northrop is designing a 20mm lightweight version of the M230LF...oy.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/03/24/northrop-grummans-sky-viper-chain-gun-may-get-a-shot-at-the-armys-fara-helicopter/

Canole says Northrop was approached by DEVCOM which wanted to evaluate another option than General Dynamics’ XM301 20mm Gatling gun which the Army has indicated will be integrated into the FARA prototypes.

The Sky Viper is an improved version of Northrop’s M230 Bushmaster, a 30 mm single-barrel chain gun carried by the AH-64 Apache. Downsizing to a smaller cannon round and form factor fits with the FARA design concept which emphasizes a lightweight primary armament system with rapid-fire capability to engage targets and provide defensive fires without excessive payload and recoil.

Among the advantages Northrop Grumman claims for Sky Viper is accuracy. The company says it’s more of a precision weapon than the XM301 which it sees as more of an area-suppression weapon. 

The reduced recoil of the Sky Viper - which Northrop Grumman says is “ground-up” redesign of the M230 - diminishes airframe fatigue and gimble/mounting structure stress, rendering lighter system weight as a whole.

While emphasizing that Sky Viper is a FARA-focused effort (with DEVCOM funding), Canole acknowledges that Northrop Grumman is looking beyond the platform to where it might offer a solution “with a lot more firepower than a .50 caliber”. That could include the Army’s new Mobile Protected Firepower light tank prototypes for which .50 caliber (12.7mm) auxiliary guns are already spec-ed.

“The low recoil and a relatively lightweight system really opens the door for [applications] where .50 calibers tend to be the mainstay,” Canole says.

Yikes, they're trying hard to spin their airframe constraints requiring a step backwards as a positive

Or not.

FARA is the OH-58D replacement.

ANY cannon is a “step-change capability upgrade” for that role.

This is a LIGHT helicopter.

What does 30x113 offer that 20x104 doesn’t in this case?

Velocity increased from 800/805 m/s to 1105 m/s? Tony's chart in "collecting 30mm cartridges"  indicates 245 gm projectile.   Wikipedia is indicating 270gm.   If the latter is correct for current shells, , that would explain how they were able to increase the velocity so much, probably also optimized powder. 

EwingGreg said:

Velocity increased from 800/805 m/s to 1105 m/s?

I think thats almost certainly a transcribing error from someone at Northrop's PDF writing staff using 30x173mm velocity. Going up to 1105 m/s would be an insane performance increase.

In terms of the shell itself for the 'LW30 Prox' I found this funding document just now, which suggests that the LW30 will just be the same HEDP round, but with the new programable fuze. Especially for the Apache, this makes a ton of sense, although HEDP does sacrifice a fragmentation optimized shell. 

https://apps.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2021/Army/stamped/U_0603639A_4_PB_2021.pdf

Project XT5 30mm Anti-Personnel and Counter UAS: Lightweight 30x113mm (LW30) Airburst is a new capability identified as a Warfighter requirement in the Capability Production Document (CPD), AH-64E Helicopter, Increment 1, Version 6. The LW30 airburst cartridge improves the ability of the Warfighter to effectively engage antipersonnel/materiel targets due to increased lethality. Airburst capability provides the user with a much higher probability of achieving a first burst kill against enemy personnel targets in the open.

The LW30 will retain its dual purpose warhead, allowing it to continue to defeat light armored threats through point detonation. The cartridge provides increased lethal effects against personnel and soft-skin vehicular targets increasing Soldier Survivability on the ground during troops in contact engagements and decreases the required number of rounds to reach the desired lethal effects.

30x113mm - An other transaction agreement (OTA) contract was awarded to purchase links for the 30x113mm ammunition. Linked ammunition deliveries will be synchronized with test schedules for ammunition/weapon qualification and Remote Weapon Station (RWS)/vehicle system integration. Ammunition qualification tests and weapon qualification tests will be conducted in FY 2020. Purchase of linked 30x113mm cartridges will transition to competitive procurement by FY 2020. Efforts to develop a self-destructing airburst capable munition and a guided 30x113mm munition will also be conducted. [ perhaps like a bigger version of DARPA's Exacto? ]

DavidPawley said:

What does 30x113 offer that 20x104 doesn’t in this case

Well, the goal seems to be for the FARA to be a sort of light attack helicopter for high intensity conflicts, with potential to supplement / replace the Apache.

And 30mm HEDP, with its 50mm RHA penetration, offers a much better chance of penetrating the roofs of IFV/AFV's and other military vehicles then 20mm, while also offering far superior anti personnel effects should the helicopter need to either defend itself from ground forces, or clear the way for infantry/vehicles. All with a gun and ammo system that is not much heavier than 20mm. 

Plus going 30mm would allow FARA to share ammo with Apache and ground based 30mm Army vehicles. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2020/07/22/army-eyes-replacing-apache-with-fara-as-its-kick-in-the-door-attack-helicopter

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2020/raider-x-enters-fara-prototype-phase.html

The Army calls the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) a “knife fighter” for the future battlefield. This out-front platform will fly into the most demanding and contested environments and requires maximum performance in a small package. RAIDER X is specifically designed for vertical lift dominance against evolving peer and near-peer threats in a joint all domain environment.

.......

Of course this sort of nebulous, high end, all things to all people in a light helicopter is very similar to the overly vague and ambitious plans that killed off the earlier attempts to replace the Kiowa. FARA is now the 4th attempt at this...