The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-style autocannon that is primarily mounted in the United States Air Force's Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. Designed to destroy a wide variety of ground targets, the Avenger delivers very powerful rounds at a high rate of fire. The GAU-8/A is also used in the Goalkeeper CIWS ship weapon system, which provides defense against short-range threats such as highly maneuverable missiles, aircraft, and fast-maneuvering surface vessels. The GAU-8/A is produced by General Dynamics.
The GAU-8/A Avenger's barrel and breech assembly (ammunition drum off right edge of photo)
GAU-8 closeup
GAU-8 with barrel shroud visible
30x173mm round next to a .30-06 Springfield for comparison
The 30 mm caliber is a range of autocannon ammunition. It includes the NATO standardized Swiss 30×173mm, the Soviet 30×155mmB, 30×165mm and 30×210mmB, the Czechoslovak 30×210mm, the Yugoslav 30×192mm, the British 30×113mmB, and the French 30×150mmB and 30×170mm cartridges.
Size comparison between 30×170mm and 5.56x45mm NATO
Soviet 30×165mm
The DU penetrator of a 30×173 mm round used in the GAU-8
French 30×150mmB