The U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division has tested an M1 Abrams main battle tank equipped with an M134 Minigun, a 7.62x51mm six-barrel rotary weapon more commonly seen on helicopters.
Photos shared on social media show the Minigun mounted at the loader’s hatch, replacing the standard M240 machine gun.
Ready First brings the heat.💥
1ABCT, @1stArmoredDiv tank crews test the M134 Minigun on an M1 Abrams at Fort Bliss, Jul 24.
Rotary firepower meets heavy armor—tactical edge secured for tomorrow’s fight#Army250 #Readiness #BeAllYouCanBe @USArmy pic.twitter.com/tT1XWQB7Al— FORSCOM 🇺🇸 (@FORSCOM) July 28, 2025
Unlike the M240, which fires about 650 rounds per minute, the electrically powered M134 Minigun can fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute. The tank-tested version is also equipped with a Trijicon MGRS collimator sight.
While the setup offers overwhelming firepower, it comes with a critical drawback. According to Defense Express, operating the weapon requires the crew member to stand in the open loader’s hatch, exposing them to enemy fire.
“Despite how promising this sounds, the setup has one critical downside: to operate the weapon, the crew member must expose themselves through the loader’s hatch, becoming an easy target for enemy fire,” the outlet noted.
“Even if we set aside the threat of kamikaze drones, battlefield shrapnel alone remains a deadly risk. This comes on top of recent criticism of a new U.S. anti-drone doctrine, which bizarrely instructs tank commanders to exit the vehicle and use hand signals to direct fire.”
As of now, there is no indication that this Minigun configuration will be adopted for regular service.
