General Electric
General Dynamics
GAU-8/A Avenger
In service 1977–present
General Electric
GAU-8/A Avenger
 |
|
| Type | Gatling-style autocannon |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | since 1977 |
| Used by | United States Air Force (Avenger) Various navies (Goalkeeper) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | General Electric |
| Manufacturer | General Electric General Dynamics |
| Produced | since 1977 |
| Variants | GAU-12/U Equalizer GAU-13/A |
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.
History General Electric
General Dynamics
GAU-8/A Avenger
In service 1977–present
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. Designed to destroy a wide variety of ground targets, the Avenger delivers 30mm rounds at a high rate of fire. The GAU-8/A is also used in the Dutch Goalkeeper CIWS ship weapon system, which provides defense against short-range threats such as highly maneuverable missiles, aircraft, and fast-maneuvering surface vessels. The GAU-8/A was designed by General Electric and has been produced by General Dynamics since 1977.
Design
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 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. Power for operating the gun is provided by twin hydraulic motors pressurized from two independent hydraulic systems. The magazine can hold 1,174 rounds, although 1,150 is the typical load-out. 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.
Photo Gallery
General Electric
General Dynamics
GAU-8/A Avenger
In service 1977–present
General Electric General Dynamics GAU-8/A Avenger In service 1977–present
-
-
-
-
General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger
Mass 619.5 lb (281 kg) Length 19 ft 10.5 in (6.06 m) (total system)112.28 in (2.85 m) (gun only) Barrel length 90.5 in (2.30 m) Width 17.2 in (0.437 m) (barrels only)
-
-
-
-
-
Specifications Cartridge 30×173 mm Caliber 30 mm Barrels 7-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 24 grooves) Action Electrically controlled, hydraulic-driven Rate of fire 3,900 rpm (variable) Muzzle velocity 3,324 ft/s (1,010 m/s) (API) Effective firing range 4,000 feet (1,220 m) Maximum firing range Over 12,000 feet (3,660 m) Feed system Linkless feed system
-
Links to Youtube & Others
The GAU-8 was created as a parallel program with the A-X (or Attack Experimental) competition that produced the A-10. The specification for the cannon was laid out in 1970,[4] with General Electric and Philco-Ford offering competing designs.
General Electric
GAU-8/A Avenger
General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-style autocannon
Youtube Link
The GAU-8/A is extremely accurate and can fire up to 3,900 rounds per minute without complications
Read more in General Electric
General Dynamics
GAU-8/A Avenger
In service 1977–present
.png)
