At this speed it would take 18 seconds of sustained fire to empty the magazine. This rate was later changed to a fixed rate of 3,900 rpm. The Avenger's rate of fire was originally selectable, 2,100 rounds per minute (rpm) in the low setting, or 4,200 rpm in the high setting. The cartridges measure 11.4 inches (290 mm) in length and weigh 1.53 pounds (0.69 kg) or more. The projectiles incorporate a plastic driving band to improve barrel life. This alone adds 30% to ammunition capacity for a given weight. Īn innovation in the design of the GAU-8/A ammunition is the use of aluminum alloy cases in place of the traditional steel or brass. In 1979, the Avenger was tested against M47 Patton tanks and caused "severe damage". The PGU-14/B's projectile incorporates a lightweight aluminum body, cast around a smaller caliber depleted uranium penetrating core. The standard ammunition mixture for anti-armor use is a five-to-one mix of PGU-14/B Armor Piercing Incendiary, with a projectile weight of about 14.0 oz (395 grams or 6,096 grains) and PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) rounds, with a projectile weight of about 13.3 oz (378 grams or 5,833 grains). Muzzle velocity when firing armor-piercing incendiary rounds is 1,013 m/s, almost the same as the substantially lighter M61 Vulcan's 20 mm round, giving the gun a muzzle energy of just over 200 kilojoules. The magazine can hold 1,174 rounds, although 1,150 is the typical load-out. Power for operating the gun is provided by twin hydraulic motors pressurized from two independent hydraulic systems. It measures 19 ft 5 + 1⁄ 2 in (5.931 m) from the muzzle to the rearmost point of the ammunition system, and the ammunition drum alone is 34.5 inches (88 cm) in diameter and 71.5 inches (1.82 m) long. The GAU-8 itself weighs 620 pounds (280 kg), but the complete weapon, with feed system and drum, weighs 4,029 pounds (1,828 kg) with a maximum ammunition load. It was produced by General Electric, though General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been responsible for production and support since 1997 when the division was sold by Lockheed Martin to General Dynamics. The A-10 with its GAU-8/A gun entered service in 1977. This vehicle is unique to the A-10 and the GAU-8. The gun is loaded using Syn-Tech's linked tube carrier GFU-8/E 30 mm Ammunition Loading Assembly cart. The front landing gear is positioned to the starboard side. The gun is mounted slightly to the port side with the active firing cannon barrel on the starboard side at the 9 o'clock position and on the aircraft's center line. GAU-8 closeup GAU-8 with barrel shroud visible Because the gun plays a significant role in maintaining the A-10's balance and center of gravity, a jack must be installed beneath the airplane's tail whenever the gun is removed for inspection in order to prevent the aircraft from tipping rearwards. Once completed, the entire GAU-8 assembly (correctly referred to as the A/A 49E-6 Gun System) represents about 16% of the A-10 aircraft's unladen weight. Both of the A-X prototypes, the YA-10 and the Northrop YA-9, were designed to incorporate the weapon, although it was not available during the initial competition the M61 Vulcan was used as a temporary replacement. The specification for the cannon was laid out in 1970, with General Electric and Philco-Ford offering competing designs. The GAU-8 was created as a parallel program with the A-X (or Attack Experimental) competition that produced the A-10. The GAU-8/A is currently produced by General Dynamics. The GAU-8/A is also used in the Goalkeeper CIWS ship weapon system, which provides defense against short-range threats such as highly maneuverable missiles, aircraft, and fast maneuvering surface vessels. Designed to destroy a wide variety of ground targets, the Avenger delivers very powerful rounds at a high rate of fire. 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. (ammunition drum off right edge of photo)ħ-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 24 grooves) Įlectrically controlled, hydraulic-driven The GAU-8/A Avenger's barrel and breech assembly
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