The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-style autocannon that is primarily mounted in the United States Air Force's Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.

The GAU-8/A 30mm Gatlin gun is installed on the U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and the Navy’s Goalkeeper Close-In Weapon System. The GAU-8/A provides a reliable, high-rate-of-fire, combat-proven weapon for close air support and shipboard defense missions.

On Nov. 16, 1970, the Air Force issued a request for proposal for a 30mm rapid fire cannon to use in the A-X Close Air Support aircraft. In June of 1971 General Electric and Philco Ford were selected to build the prototype gun, designated GAU-8.

On Nov. 16, 1970, the Air Force issued a request for proposal for a 30mm rapid fire cannon to use in the A-X Close Air Support aircraft. In June of 1971 General Electric and Philco Ford were...

The GAU-8 Avenger has been used in two iconic weapon systems. The best known is the A-10 Thunderbolt II (a.k.a. Warthog) ground attack aircraft. The GAU-8/A is the largest type of autocannon ever fitted to an aircraft. The recoil exceeds the thrust of the two engines on the A-10, reducing the airspeed while firing the gun.

Apr 4, 2023 · The development of the weapon dates back to the early 1970s when the United States Air Force issued a request for proposal (RFP) for a 30mm rapid-fire cannon that could be used with its A-X Close Air Support aircraft. General Electric developed a …

Aug 21, 2021 · The GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Rotary Cannon. The gun itself, minus ammo drum and hydraulically-driven feed system, weighs in at 620 lbs. GAU-8 is the designation for the cannon itself.

Ordnance: GAU-8 30mm Autocannon. Developed by General Electric, the 30mm GAU-8 ‘Avenger’ has been the primary weapon of the USAF’s A-10 Thunderbolt II for over 40 years. It is also mounted in the Goalkeeper naval close-in weapon system. The GAU-8 has 7 independent barrels with rotary-locking bolts which are mechanically actuated.

30mm cannon GAU-8 Avenger The GAU-8/A Avenger is more than a scaled-up M61. Such a weapon could have been designed and built but would have been unacceptably heavy. The first of many design differences is that the heavier weapon has seven barrels, instead of six.

May 30, 2024 · The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-style autocannon that is typically mounted in the US Air Force’s Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. Designed specifically for the anti-tank role, the Avenger delivers very powerful rounds at a high rate of fire.