Dillon Aero

What Dillon Aero does

Dillon Aero is a privately held U.S. defense contractor founded in 1989, headquartered in Azusa, California, with a 920-acre range and training facility near Chandler, Arizona. The company designs, manufactures, and supports weapons integration solutions for aircraft, land vehicles, and naval vessels worldwide, with a vertically integrated model spanning engineering (ISO 9001:2015 certified), CNC machining, additive manufacturing, in-house prototyping, and live-fire qualification testing.

The company's core product is the M134D family of electronically driven, multi-barrel rotary Gatling gun systems, including the Standard, Hybrid (titanium/skeletonized, 1,500,000-round service life), and Marinized (Cerakote-coated, MIL-STD-810G Salt Fog qualified) variants, firing 7.62x51mm NATO at 3,000 rounds per minute with effective range of 1,200 meters. The portfolio has expanded into higher calibers with the 503D .50 Caliber Gatling Gun (2025) and signature reduction with the M134D Suppressor SD134 (2026, using additive DMLS technology licensed from Centre Support Services). A broad mount ecosystem wraps the weapon systems for rotary-wing platforms (UH-60, CH-47, Bell, MD 500, Airbus, Mi-8/17), ground vehicles (CEV, MMC/MMC-R turrets, Platt MR550, Toyota/Ford platforms), and naval craft (Universal Naval Deck Mount, Griffon 2000TD Hovercraft), supplemented by accessories such as the BRIC II lithium battery, magazines up to 4,000 rounds, optical round counters, and armorer tool kits.

Dillon Aero operates a direct enterprise sales and lifecycle support model targeting U.S. military (all branches) and allied foreign militaries in 50+ countries, with revenue derived from hardware sales (weapon systems, spares, ammunition supply), professional services (training, integration engineering, modernization kits for legacy GAU-2B/M134 Miniguns), and aftermarket support delivered through three mobile training and maintenance groups and the Dillon Range Facility. Pricing is quote-based through inquiry channels with no public disclosure. More than 6,500 weapon systems have been fielded globally since 1989, establishing the M134D as a standard armament in U.S. and allied rotary-wing services, including as the sole-source provider of Chinook mounts to U.S. Army Special Operations.

Name

Dillon Aero

Legal name

Dillon Aero Inc.

Website

https://dillonaero.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dillon Aero is a privately held U.S. defense contractor, founded in 1989, that designs, manufactures, and integrates M134D-family Gatling gun weapon systems and supporting mounts, accessories, training, and lifecycle services for U.S. military, allied foreign militaries, and special operations forces across air, land, and sea platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Weapon Systems

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)

akta.pro primary industry

Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber) (IMABAHAG)

Keywords

• Military weapon systems
• Aerial gatling guns
• Weapon system integration
• Defense manufacturing
• Platform-specific mounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Azusa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Weapon Systems Hardware Sales: Sale of complete M134D weapon systems including standard, hybrid, and marinized variants. Also includes 503D .50 caliber Gatling gun and gun pod systems as self-contained aircraft-mountable units.
2. Spare Parts and Product Support: Substantial inventory reserves maintained for spare parts. In-house machine shop enables agile response. Three mobile training and maintenance groups provide worldwide support.
3. Training Services: Comprehensive M134D System training through 3-day, 5-day, and FARP courses. Includes classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and live-fire exercises at Dillon Range Facility.
4. Ammunition Supply: Preferred dealer for US and Foreign NATO and Eastern Bloc ammunition manufacturers. Provides handgun, rifle, and .50 Caliber ammunition in various calibers, types, and quantities including match grade, linked, and special purpose.
5. Platform Integration and Engineering Services: Engineering support for system innovation, platform integration, upgrades, and modernization kits for older generation General Electric GAU-2B/M134 Miniguns.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dillon Aero designs, manufactures, and integrates electronically driven M134D Gatling gun weapon systems (Standard 7.62mm, Hybrid, and Marinized variants) and the 503D .50 Caliber Gatling Gun for installation on aircraft, land vehicles, and naval vessels. The company also supplies platform-specific weapon mounts, ammunition feed systems, suppressors, supporting accessories, comprehensive operator/maintainer training, and lifecycle product support. Sales are made exclusively to U.S. and allied military and government customers.

Product overview

Dillon Aero is a defense contractor specializing in aerial weapon systems, primarily the M134D Minigun family (Standard, Hybrid, Marinized variants) and the 503D .50 Caliber Gatling Gun. The company's portfolio centers on the M134D Gatling gun system as the core product, augmented by compatible add-ons including the DAP-6 Gun Pod System, BRIC II Improved Lithium Battery, and various weapon accessories (Blade Safing Top Cover, Bullet Trap, Armorer Tool Kit, Hot Barrel Shroud, Inert Training Rounds, Magazines/Feed Systems, and Rounds Counter). Supporting the weapon systems is a comprehensive ecosystem of platform-specific mounts covering Air (rotary wing platforms including Sikorsky UH-60, Boeing CH-47, Bell UH, MD 500/530, MCAS-500, MCAS-407, Bell MCAS-UH, Mi-8/Mi-17/Mi-171, and Airbus helicopters), Land (Convoy Escort Vehicle, Tactical Vehicles MMC/MMC-R, Ford F150 Turret Support, MMC Turret System, MMC-R Turret System, Platt MR550 Shielded Ring Mount, Toyota 70-Series Land Cruiser Turret Support), and Sea (Universal Naval Deck Mount, Griffon 2000TD Hovercraft Turret). The company also provides integrated support services including Product Support, Training (3-day, 5-day, and FARP courses), Range Facilities, Ammunition supply, and Engineering capabilities (ISO 9001:2015 certified). The company has fielded more than 6,500 weapon systems in over 50 countries since 1989.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• M134D Standard 7.62 x 51mm Gatling Gun The proven 7.62mm Gatling gun configuration trusted worldwide for dependable operation, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO with a firing rate of 3,000 rounds per minute; sold exclusively to U.S. and allied military forces.
• M134D-H Hybrid 7.62 x 51mm Gatling Gun A lightweight hybrid Gatling gun design utilizing titanium and skeletonized parts, offering a 10-pound weight reduction versus the steel system while maintaining a service life of 1,500,000 rounds; sold exclusively to U.S. and allied military forces.
• M134D-M Marinized 7.62 x 51mm Gatling Gun A corrosion-resistant, maritime-ready system built for harsh sea environments, featuring Cerakote ceramic coatings and stainless steel hardware, tested to MIL-STD-810G Salt Fog standards, averaging 30,000 rounds between stoppages; sold to naval and maritime military operators.
• 503D .50 Caliber Gatling Gun A high-capacity .50 caliber Gatling gun system engineered for exceptional reliability, firing up to 1,500 rounds per minute with a gun weight of 101.4 lbs, featuring a tool-free attachment interface, custom fluid-damped buffer system, and commonality with the M134D drive system, batteries, clutch components, and electronics; sold exclusively to military customers.
• DAP-6 Gun Pod System A self-contained M134D-H weapon system that mounts to fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, utilizing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition and designed to hang directly from a NATO Weapons Rack; sold to military aviation operators.
• Platt MR550 Shielded Ring Mount System

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,500 weapons systems fielded globally
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Centre Support ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed patented technology for M134D Suppressor (SD134). Centre Support Services developed innovative additive DMLS manufacturing technology that enables interchangeable components while retaining strength of monolithic construction on individual parts.
• Concept Development CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed patented Ballistic Media System for Bullet Trap Assembly. Technology independently tested and proven effective against armor-piercing projectiles from 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 BMG weapons.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nammo: Nordic defense group producing small/medium-caliber ammunition, shoulder-fired weapons, and aerospace propulsion. Nammo's ammunition business directly complements the calibers Dillon's weapons fire and serves overlapping NATO customers.
• FN Herstal: Belgian manufacturer of military small arms and crew-served weapons including the MINIMI (M249) light machine gun family. FN Herstal directly competes with Dillon Aero in the military rotary/chain-gun category and supplies NATO militaries with comparable caliber systems.
• Heckler & Koch: German manufacturer of military small arms and crew-served weapons widely used by NATO and allied forces. H&K's MG4/MG5 and HK21 families overlap with Dillon Aero's mission of supplying reliable military machine guns to government customers.
• SIG Sauer: US-headquartered manufacturer of military and law-enforcement firearms including machine guns adopted across DoD and allied services. SIG's MG 338 and medium-machine-gun programs place it in the same procurement conversations as Dillon's rotary-weapon systems.
• Israel Weapon Industries (IWI): Israeli manufacturer of military small arms including the Negev light machine gun family. IWI serves many of the same allied military customers as Dillon Aero, including special operations forces, with comparable weapon-system offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Rheinmetall: German defense prime with significant weapons and ammunition portfolio including chain guns, automatic cannons, and infantry weapons. Competes with Dillon in helicopter-mounted weapon stations and serves the same European/NATO customer base.
• Northrop Grumman: US defense prime supplying weapons, sensors, and integrated mission systems across airborne, naval, and ground domains. Northrop's role as a helicopter (Huey, Black Hawk) systems integrator makes it adjacent to Dillon's rotary-weapon mount business.
• BAE Systems: Global defense prime with significant weapons, ordnance, and platform integration capabilities across air, land, and sea. BAE competes with Dillon in naval gun systems and crew-served weapon integrations for the UK and allied navies.
• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems: Originally manufactured the GAU-2B/M134 Minigun that Dillon's M134D evolved from. As a broad defense incumbent, GD-OTS supplies a wider portfolio of crew-served weapons, ammunition, and ordnance to US and allied forces, overlapping with Dillon in rotary weapons and helicopter armament.
• Leonardo: Italian defense and aerospace group manufacturing helicopters, naval guns, and remote weapon stations. Leonardo's naval and helicopter weapon systems overlap with Dillon's marinized and rotary-wing product lines, particularly across NATO European customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100084155804199
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dillon-aero-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/dillonaeroinc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dillon Aero