# USAF Seeks Medium-Caliber Air Defense Guns

The U.S. Air Force has reported an urgent operational requirement and issued an RFI for a ground-based medium-caliber gun system to defend Air Force assets against subsonic cruise missiles and Group 1–5 unmanned aircraft. The RFI highlights affordable munitions, integrated multi-phenomenology sensors, swarm defense, and a lightweight, rapidly deployable design. No contract value, solicitation number, or response deadline is provided, and Northrop Grumman’s XM913 BUSHMASTER 50 mm chain gun is identified as a possible near-term solution—not as a selected system or award.

- Companies with ground-based gun, sensor, and ammunition capabilities can assess how their offerings address the stated requirements and whether they can support an integrated, deployable system.
- The urgent requirement signals a potential Air Force procurement opportunity in base air defense; interested suppliers should track the RFI and any follow-on solicitation for submission instructions and formal requirements.
- Northrop Grumman is a relevant market participant, but the signal does not indicate an award or establish that its system meets all Air Force requirements.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Air Force (USAF)

### Vendors
- Northrop Grumman (Manufacturer of the XM913 BUSHMASTER 50 mm chain gun, identified as a possible near-term solution)

### Sources
- [FW-MAG Future Warfare Magazine - shownews  - USAF urgently seeks medium-caliber automatic weapons for base air defense ](https://www.fw-mag.com/shownews/1266/usaf-urgently-seeks-medium-caliber-automatic-weapons-for-base-air-defense) - FW-MAG Future Warfare Magazine