Video: Incredible Video of A-10 Warthog's Fearsome GAU-8 Avenger in Action The A-10 Thunderbolt is also known as the Warthog, the ‘flying gun’ and the Tankbuster. The A-10 is a high-survivability and versatile aircraft, popular with pilots for the ‘get home’ effectiveness. The mission of the aircraft is ground attack against tanks, armoured vehicles and installations, and close air support of ground forces. The A-10 is suitable for operation from forward air bases, with short take-off and landing capability. The aircraft has a long range (800 miles), high endurance and can loiter in the battle area. The manoeuvrability at low speed and low altitude (below 1,000ft) allows accurate and effective targeting and weapon delivery over all types of terrain. The GAU-8/A 30mm Gatlin gun iis installed on the U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and the Navy’s Goalkeeper Close-In Weapon System. The GAU-8/A provides a reliable, high-rate-of-fire, combat-proven weapon for close air support and shipboard defense missions. Each of the gun’s seven barrels contains its own breech bolt assembly, which fires once per gun revolution. This ensures long barrel life because firing loads are distributed over all seven barrels. Continuous rotary motion reduces impact loads on gun components, leading to long parts life and high reliability. The A-10 aircraft is specifically designed to provide close air support. The GAU-8/A gun provides rapid response to threats that are in close proximity to friendly ground forces and is well suited for engagements inside missile envelopes. In the Goalkeeper application, the GAU-8/A fires a lethal, high-kinetic-energy 30mm Missile-Piercing Discarding Sabot round. Video by Airman 1st Class Christina Rios, Senior Airman Christina Rios, Tech. Sgt. William Hopper, Tech. Sgt. Eric E Flores #usmilitarynews #americanpatriot #usmilitary