The Avenger has seen use in multiple conflicts, earning a reputation that will linger long after the A-10 platform is retired.
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is finally slated for retirement after years of debate and resistance. When the A-10 is retired, the US military will lose what is the most capable close air support (CAS) platform in its inventory, and arguably, aviation history.
At the heart of the A-10’s renowned CAS abilities is the GAU-8/A Avenger autocannon—perhaps the most iconic and fearsome weapon ever installed on an aircraft.
Understanding the A-10’s Mighty Autocannon
The GAU-8/A Avenger is a massive seven-barrel Gatling-style auto cannon capable of delivering devastating firepower. With its ability to fire up to 3,900 rounds per minute—or 65 rounds per second—the Avenger is nearly unmatched in its destructive capability, which makes it ideal for attacking armored vehicles, ground fortifications, and other battlefield targets.
The Avenger uses a 30x173mm round, far larger than the 20mm or 25mm rounds used in most aircraft cannons. The larger round possesses increased kinetic energy, allowing for improved armor-piercing ability, sufficient to destroy tanks or other armored vehicles. The primary ammunition used in the Avenger is the PGU-14/B Armor-Piercing Incendiary (API) round, which features a depleted uranium core. While controversial due to health and environmental concerns, the US military favors using uranium because the material is incredibly dense and penetrative, allowing the round to punch through heavy armor with relative ease. Occasionally, the API round will be swapped out in favor of a high-explosive incendiary (HEI) round, depending on mission requirements.
Why Is the GAU-8/A Avenger So Dangerous?
Weighing in at over 600 pounds—4,000 pounds with a full ammunition drum—the Avenger takes up a significant portion of the A-10’s fuselage. With its barrels sitting slightly off-center to the left, the gun is aligned with the aircraft’s centerline, preventing recoil from throwing off the jet’s aim during sustained firing bursts. In combat, the Avenger is used in short bursts to maximize accuracy and reduce heat buildup. While gun bursts will usually last for one or two seconds, the time is enough for the Avenger to deliver a few dozen Pepsi can-sized rounds within a tight radius.
Few weapons offer the psychological impact of the Avenger. The gun’s signature sound, a widely recognized “BRRT,” is demoralizing to enemy forces and rejuvenating to US ground forces. Troops in the field have described the Avenger’s sound as being comparable to a chainsaw or a canvas ripping.
The Avenger has seen use in multiple conflicts, including the Gulf War and Afghanistan, earning a reputation that will linger long after the A-10 platform is retired.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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