The A-10 Thunderbolt II (AKA A-10 Warthog) was designed around its massive GAU-8/A Avenger nose cannon.
The gun and plane were developed in parallel, which resulted in the perfect marriage. In fact, without the nose cannon, the plane is completely off balance and can’t fly.
Developed by General Electric, the 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type cannon was designed to combat tanks and provide close air support. Both the A-10 and its GAU-8/A gun entered service in 1977. This video explains the cannon’s role in today’s battlefield.
Watch:
A dummy vehicle displays damage caused from rounds fired from a 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon on a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron during a theater security package deployment over the range at Campia Turzii, Romania, April 1, 2015. The pilots used the car as a target for the U.S. and Romanian air forces while aiming to strengthen interoperability and demonstrate the countries’ shared commitment to the security and stability of Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden/Released) A dummy vehicle displays damage caused from rounds fired from a 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon on a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II assigned to the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron during a theater security package deployment over the range at Campia Turzii, Romania, April 1, 2015. The pilots used the car as a target for the U.S. and Romanian air forces while aiming to strengthen interoperability and demonstrate the countries’ shared commitment to the security and stability of Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden/Released) An A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft with the 122nd Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Indiana, sits on the flight line during Southern Strike, Feb. 11, 2020, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The A-10’s GAU-8 Avenger 30 mm cannon serves as a Close Air Support “Tank Buster” for the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Rita Jimenez)
