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National 20 mm Turreted Gatling Gun System for the T129 ATAK Helicopter

Tarih: Issue 142 - December 2025

The rotary-barrel (3-barrel) turreted gun system, capable of firing 750 rounds per minute of 20 mm (20 mm x 102 mm) caliber ammunition, developed and produced domestically and nationally by TR MEKATRONİK—a joint venture of SARSILMAZ (50%) and TUSAŞ (50%)—was showcased at the SARSILMAZ booth during the IDEF '25 Fair. Garnered significant attention at the fair, this system is intended for use on the HÜRKUŞ-C Close Air Support Aircraft, alongside a 12.7 mm Weapon Pod featuring the SARSILMAZ SAR 127 MT (12.7 x 99 mm heavy machine gun). Another 20 mm rotary-barrel (6-barrel) gatling gun developed for the National Fixed-Wing Aircraft projects also exhibited at SARSILMAZ booth.

As of July 2025, four units of the 20 mm rotary-barrel turreted gun systems have been exported to Nigeria. Furthermore, feedback from flight tests on two T129 ATAK Helicopters used by TUSAŞ—equipped with TR MEKATRONİK's 20 mm Turreted Gatling Gun System—has been incorporated to make improvements to the system. The Gendarmerie Aviation Command became the first user of the TR MEKATRONİK 20 mm Turreted Gatling Gun System after Nigeria, receiving the 14th T129 ATAK Helicopter in early July, fully equipped with both the indigenous and national 20 mm Turreted Gatling Gun System and ASELSAN's ASELFLIR-410 E/O FLIR System featuring SWIR camera capabilities (additionally integrated with the MWS-TU Missile Warning System sensor). We assess that a 6-barrel (Gatling-type) 20 mm gun, equivalent to the 20 mm (20 mm x 102 mm) M61 Vulcan cannon used on F-16 and F-4E 2020 aircraft, is currently in the development phase and can be integrated into national platforms either within the fuselage or in pods. Unlike the M61 Vulcan, this 20 mm rotary-barrel (6-barrel) gun employs a linear linkless feed system and an electric drive mechanism instead of a drum-type linked feed. It is also planned for use as an air defence system against drone threats (particularly those capable of swarm attacks). As the primary weapon of an aircraft, the 20 mm 6-barrel Gatling gun currently achieves a rate of fire of 2,000 rounds per minute, and over 3,000 rounds per minute when employed as an air defence system.