The A-10 Warthog is an attack aircraft used by the United States Air Force that is especially designed for close air support and ground attack missions. This aircraft carries one of the most powerful weapons systems of any fixed wing aircraft currently in use in the U.S. military.
The A-10 Warthog is equipped with a GAU-8 Avenger 30mm rotary cannon. This cannon holds 1,174 rounds of high explosive incendiary ammunition and has no minimum range, allowing for the A-10 to fire with great precision at both aerial and ground targets. With this cannon, the A-10 can fire up to 400 rounds per second. The A-10 can carry up to 1,350 rounds at a time, spread out within 17 different ammunition drums. This allows pilots to choose the best ammunition for the tasks at hand.
In situations where less power is needed, the A-10 is also equipped with two AIM-9L/M Sidewinder infrared guided missiles on each wing. This type of missile has a range of up to 40 miles and a speed of Mach 2. Both of these missiles provide air-to-air capability and are typically used for air-to-ground attack. The A-10 is also equipped with an M61 Vulcan 20mm six-barrel Gatling cannon which can fire 100 rounds per second.