The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type autocannon that is typically mounted in the United States 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.
Service: USAF Weight: 619.5 lb Total Length: 19 ft 10.5 in Barrel Length: 90.5 in Width: 17.2 in Caliber: 30 mm Barrels: 7 Max Rate of Fire: 4,200 rpm Muzzle Velocity: 3,500 ft/s Maximum Range: 3,660 m
The AN/GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gun system was specifically built to serve as a Close Air Support "Tank Buster" for the U.S. Air Force. Similar to the earlier M61 20mm Vulcan design, the Avenger uses seven barrels to achieve a rate of fire of 3,900 rounds per minute.
The Avenger fires a mix of 30mm electrically primed PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) rounds and PGU-14/B Armor Piercing Incendiary (API) rounds. While the HEI rounds provide the Avenger the ability to destroy light skinned vehicles, the weapon's real punch is delivered by the API rounds, each of which incorporates over half a pound of super-dense Depleted Uranium. At 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) a 2-second burst from the AN/GAU-8 will deliver 100 rounds containing 65 pounds of DU and place 80 percent of these projectiles within 20 feet of the target.
The AN/GAU-8 is used exclusively by the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, a dedicated Close Air Support aircraft which was essentially designed around the Avenger gun system.
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. Besides development of the gun, the contract called for the development of four types of ammunition: Armor Piercing Incendiary, High Explosive Incendiary, Semi-Armor Piercing High Explosive and Target Practice.
No comments:
Post a Comment