A top cover and safing blade assembly replaces the prior art top cover and
safing sector in 7.62 miniguns. The top cover and aft camming portion of
a longitudinal helical track are combined in a single unit, thus
permitting the forward camming portion of the helical track, incorporated
in the safing blade, to be removed separately. Safing the gun by opening
the safing blade and rearming it by closing the safing blade can be
accomplished in far less time than is required in prior art safing
systems. Live cartridges can be quickly cleared from the minigun by
electrically rotating the barrels after the safing blade has been locked
in its open position.