How long can an A-10 Thunderbolt fire rounds before having to stop
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, is primarily designed for close air support missions and is equipped with a GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun. The GAU-8 Avenger is a 30mm, seven-barrel Gatling-style cannon capable of firing up to 3,900 rounds per minute.
The A-10 Thunderbolt II carries a maximum of 1,174 rounds of ammunition for the GAU-8 Avenger. If fired continuously at the maximum rate, the ammunition would last for approximately 18 seconds. However, in practical combat situations, the A-10 tends to fire in bursts or short bursts, conserving ammunition and increasing accuracy. This allows the A-10 to engage targets effectively for a longer duration before having to reload or resupply ammunition.