AN/GAU-8a 30mm
A-10 Gatling Gun

by Stephen Sutton

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

The AN/GAU-8a 30mm Avenger seven-barrel gatling gun, mounted only on the A-10 attack jet, is a 30mm, 7 barrel gatling gun used primarily in the air to ground role as a soft target killer and tank buster.

This aircraft is used for close-air support in attacking ground threats such as armored tanks and vehicles, and also serves as a forward air control observer for sighting ground threats and directing air strikes against enemy targets.

The gun, mounted in the fuselage nose of the A/OA-10 Thunderbolt, is produced by [ex General Electric] Martin Marietta Armament Systems.

According to some sources, the GAU-8 fires 1,800 rounds per minute, with the higher 4200 rd/min rate having been deleted in the 1980s. However, the A-10 can only fire in high rate, which is 3900 rounds per minute. Find out more on the A-10 here http://www.a-10.org/

Click the thumbnails below to view the images full-sized.
Use your browser's Back Arrow to return to this page:

---

Text & Images Copyright © 2003 by Stephen Sutton
Page Created 21 June, 2003
Last Updated 19 April, 2004

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reference Library