AN/GAU-8 30mm Cannon

The AN/GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gun system was particularly builds to serve up as a Close Air Support ""Tank Buster."". It’s like to the previous M61 20mm Vulcan, The Avenger uses seven barrels to attain a rate of fire of 3,900 rounds per minute. The Avenger fires a mix of 30mm electrically primed PGU-13/B (HEI) rounds and PGU-14/B Armor Piercing Incendiary (API) rounds.
While the High Explosive Incendiary (HEI) rounds provide the Avenger the capability to destroy light skinned vehicle, the weapon's real punch is delivered by the API rounds, each of which incorporate over half a pound of super-dense Depleted Uranium (DU). At 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) a 2 second burst from the AN/GAU-8 will transport 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 totally by the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, a dedicated Close Air Support aircraft which was essentially intended around the Avenger gun system.