Re: Recoil
The russians had a 20mm auto canon (and tested it) in the 1970's fitted to modified Salut space stations - the Almaz project.
The US proposed under kennedy to have nukes on space stations. - and what do you think the X-39 is for?
China and possibly India have proven the tech previously.
Why shouldn't ESA/the french?
Machineguns in space would be just another weapon up there. The concern on corrupting the orbits is not as much as is painted. What goes up, eventually comes down. It might take 20 years. Targets are likely LEO spysats, so decay relatively quickly.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
