The US Navy has deployed a major upgrade to the MK 38 short-range weapon system, marking the first caliber improvement after many years of operation.
The new version named MK 38 MOD 4 is expected to significantly improve close-range defense capabilities, helping warships respond more effectively to modern air and sea threats.
The most important change of MOD 4 is the replacement of the old 25mm gun with the 30mm Bushmaster II gun manufactured by the defense and aerospace industry corporation Northrop Grumman.
Increased caliber not only expands the range but also increases destructive power, and allows the use of 30mm aerial explosives, a type of ammunition designed to destroy low-flying targets, fast attacking boats and small, highly maneuverable threats.
Along with firepower upgrades, the optoelectronic/infrared (EO/IR) targeting system has also been comprehensively improved.
The new sensor helps increase the ability to detect, track and lock targets in many weather conditions, day and night.
The operator's dashboard is modernized, turning the MK 38 into a smarter weapon platform, shortening the reaction time to emergencies.
To enhance combat flexibility, the system also allows the deployment of 12.7mm heavy machine guns integrated with special sensors.
This configuration helps the crew expand their ability to cope with both sea and air threats, especially in the context of the increasing trend of using unmanned vehicles and small, high-speed targets.
Under the direction of the Dahlgren Naval Front Operations Center (NSWCDD), MK 38 MOD 4 is integrated with the Aegis Combat System, which is an advanced command, control and firepower management platform on US destroyers and cruisers.
Thanks to that, the system can track targets faster, coordinate sensor data more effectively and operate seamlessly with other defense systems on board.
This will significantly improve the ability to counter modern threats. With larger calibers, we can fire longer and cause greater damage," said Danny Mudd, head of the project's technical program team.
The development history of MK 38 clearly reflects the evolution of US naval weapons technology. The system was first deployed in the Persian Gulf in the 1990s, mainly to protect ships from small targets on the water.
The MOD 2 version then converted the MK 38 into a remote-controlled weapon, maintaining high stability even when the ship was affected by large waves.
By MOD 3, put into use in 2017, the system added an optional 7.62mm gun and an optical/infrared sensor for a viewing angle of 330 degrees, significantly expanding surveillance and combat capabilities.
Currently, MOD 4 is optimized to deal with more compact, mobile and diverse threats, and has also been installed on the USS Mustin of the Arleigh Burke class.
