Israel has deployed a powerful weapon, the M61 Vulcan cannon—a six-barrel, rotary Gatling-style gun renowned for its high rate of fire—to strengthen defenses against unmanned aerial threats posed by Hezbollah and other regional adversaries. The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed the move as part of a broader strategy to enhance border security.
The M61 Vulcan, originally developed in the United States, is renowned for its high rate of fire, capable of shooting up to 6,000 rounds per minute. First used by the U.S. military in the 1950s and a staple of American fighter aircraft like the F-15 and F-16, the cannon fires 20mm rounds and can be equipped with various ammunition types, including target practice, armor-piercing, and high-explosive incendiary rounds. The M61 cannons will primarily aim to intercept low-flying drones, filling a tactical gap in Israel’s air defense, which includes the Iron Dome system for longer-range missile threats.
Currently deployed on Israel’s northern border, the M61 Vulcan cannons were produced domestically by the Tamar Group. Reports indicate that Israel had been considering the M61 for its air defense since May, when Channel 12 noted that the IDF was exploring procurement options to reinforce counter-drone capabilities. The Israeli military assigned storage and operational responsibility for the Vulcan systems to the Israeli Air Force.
Historically, Israel received its first M61 Vulcan cannons from the United States during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The system has been used extensively in conflicts worldwide, including by the U.S. in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and by Israel during the 1982 Lebanon War.
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