The U.S. Air Force is adopting a new 30 mm ammunition-linking machine designed to reduce costs by repurposing existing munitions. According to reporting from Air Force Times and Military Times, the system links 30 mm rounds so they can be used on AC-130J gunships. The approach centers on recycling ammunition associated with retiring A-10 aircraft, rather than acquiring new ammunition for the AC-130J fleet.
Both outlets report that the machine produces savings of about $4 million per year. The reporting attributes the reduction to extending the usable life of surplus or drawdown-era ammunition by adapting it for a different weapon platform through the linking process. The articles describe the effort as a cost-saving logistics solution that improves ammunition utilization across aircraft programs.
No additional operational details, unit location, or timelines beyond the adoption of the machine are included in the available excerpts. The core points—its function, the platforms involved (A-10 and AC-130J), and the reported annual savings—are consistent across both sources.
