The A-10 Warthog carries 1,174 rounds of 30mm ammunition for its GAU-8/A Avenger rotary cannon. This ammunition load gives pilots enough firepower for multiple attack runs against armored targets, making the A-10 one of the most feared close air support aircraft ever built.
The GAU-8 Avenger: Built Around a Gun
The A-10 wasn't designed and then fitted with a gun. Instead, the aircraft was literally built around the GAU-8/A Avenger. This seven-barrel Gatling-style cannon weighs over 4,000 pounds when loaded and is nearly 20 feet long. The gun is so large that the A-10's nose landing gear is offset to the right to make room for it.
Each 30mm round weighs about 1.5 pounds. The full ammunition load of 1,174 rounds adds approximately 1,800 pounds to the aircraft's weight. This significant mass is stored in a drum system located in the center of the fuselage, positioned to maintain the aircraft's center of gravity as ammunition depletes.
Rate of Fire and Combat Duration
The GAU-8 can fire at two rates: 3,900 rounds per minute in high-rate mode or 2,100 rounds per minute in low-rate mode. Pilots typically use short bursts of one to two seconds to conserve ammunition and maintain accuracy.
At the standard combat firing rate, the full ammunition load provides approximately 18 seconds of continuous fire. However, pilots never fire continuously. Standard doctrine calls for short bursts, allowing the 1,174 rounds to support multiple attack passes against enemy positions.
Ammunition Types
The A-10 typically carries a combat mix of ammunition:
- PGU-14/B API: Armor-piercing incendiary rounds with a depleted uranium penetrator. These can defeat the top and side armor of most armored vehicles.
- PGU-13/B HEI: High-explosive incendiary rounds for soft targets like trucks, infantry positions, and light vehicles.
The standard combat mix is typically four API rounds to one HEI round. This combination allows pilots to engage both armored and unarmored targets effectively in a single pass.
Why 1,174 Rounds?
The specific ammunition count reflects design trade-offs between firepower, weight, and aircraft performance. The A-10 needed enough ammunition to remain effective on extended close air support missions, but not so much that it would compromise flight characteristics or range.
The drum magazine's design dictated the final count. Engineers optimized the feed system for reliability, ensuring the weapon could fire without jamming even after absorbing battle damage. The 1,174-round capacity represents the maximum the drum can hold while maintaining this reliability standard.
Combat Effectiveness
During Operation Desert Storm, A-10s destroyed over 900 Iraqi tanks, 2,000 military vehicles, and 1,200 artillery pieces. The GAU-8's ability to penetrate tank armor from above made the Warthog devastatingly effective against armored columns.
Learn more about the A-10's capabilities in our complete A-10 Warthog guide or explore what an A-10 costs to operate.
The 1,174-round ammunition capacity gives A-10 pilots the firepower they need to support ground troops in extended engagements. Combined with the aircraft's legendary durability, this ammunition load makes the Warthog one of the most effective close air support platforms ever deployed.
