Northrop Grumman unveils Raid Hunter air defense system

Northrop Grumman has unveiled Raid Hunter, a 50mm gun-based air defense system designed to protect military bases, airfields, and critical infrastructure from evolving aerial threats.

The system is engineered to counter drone swarms, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). By combining proven Chain Gun technology with precision-guided 50mm ammunition and a networked battle-management controller, Raid Hunter aims to provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive interceptor missiles when facing low-cost, high-volume threats.

Raid Hunter features a modular design for rapid deployment via C-130 aircraft, with future plans for vehicle-mounted and container-based variants. The system is intended to fill a gap in short-range layered defense, offering high rates of fire, deep magazine capacity, and rapid reload capabilities to manage massed swarming attacks.