 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(November 2025) |
Dillon Aero, Inc. is an armament manufacturer in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.
| This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(November 2025) |
Dillon Aero, Inc. is an armament manufacturer in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.
Dillon Aero manufactures the Air Force GAU-2B/A (Army M134) 7.62×51mm minigun, which is used primarily by 160th SOAR. The company completely redesigned the weapon and significantly improved its reliability while reducing its weight. [1]
Dillon Aero is an American weapons manufacturer best known for producing the modernized M134D Minigun, a 7.62×51mm NATO electrically driven rotary machine gun. The company is part of the Dillon family of businesses, which also includes Dillon Rifle Company known for their silencers and soft goods, Dillon Precision, a reloading-equipment manufacturer founded by Mike Dillon. Dillon Aero was incorporated in Arizona on December 22, 1989, and emerged from efforts within the Dillon group to improve the reliability of surplus M134 Minigun systems.
During the early 1990s, Mike Dillon acquired several surplus M134 Miniguns that exhibited persistent reliability problems, particularly with ammunition feeding. In response, Dillon and his team began redesigning the weapon’s feeder/delinker and other critical components. The improved system demonstrated significantly enhanced reliability, leading to interest from U.S. military representatives who observed the redesigned weapon during testing.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dillon Aero continued to reengineer and replace legacy Minigun components, addressing issues related to weight, durability, and maintainability. By 2002, the company began producing complete weapons systems incorporating its redesigned components. In 2003, the U.S. military certified the updated weapon as the M134D, a version characterized by improved performance and reduced maintenance requirements compared to the original General Electric design. Dillon subsequently introduced additional variants, including the lightweight titanium-housing M134D-T and the hybrid M134D-H.
Since the 2000s, Dillon Aero has evolved into a full-spectrum weapons-system provider, supplying guns, mounts, ammunition-handling systems, training, and lifecycle support for platforms across air, land, and sea. According to the company, more than 6,500 Dillon-manufactured systems have been fielded in over 50 countries. Dillon Aero’s miniguns are used on a wide range of platforms, including military helicopters, maritime vessels, and ground vehicles.
Dillon Aero remains closely associated with the Dillon family enterprises, including Dillon Precision and other related companies. The firm continues to operate in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a focus on manufacturing, engineering support, and systems integration for rotary-weapon platforms.
Dillon Aero is owned by the Dillon family, who also own Dillon Precision, a manufacturer of reloading presses and other reloading equipment, as well as Dillon Optics, a sunglasses manufacturer.
The Dillon Aero M134D is a modernized variant of the M134 Minigun, a 7.62×51 mm NATO, electrically-driven, six-barrel rotary machine gun. Developed by Dillon Aero in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the M134D incorporates a suite of redesigned components intended to improve reliability, reduce weight, and simplify maintenance compared with legacy General Electric–produced Miniguns. Key updates include a redesigned feeder/delinker system, improved housing, bolt, barrel, rotor, and feed mechanisms. [2] [3]
The M134D was formally certified for U.S. military use in 2003 after testing and evaluation of Dillon’s improved design. Dillon Aero later introduced additional configurations, including the M134D-H (a hybrid titanium/steel design) and other variants to suit different platforms and roles. [4]
The weapon is capable of high rates of fire, typically 3,000 rounds per minute, and is used on a wide range of platforms — including military helicopters, maritime vessels, light aircraft (via gun pods), ground vehicles, and fixed mounts — providing sustained firepower for suppression, escort, and defensive missions. [5]