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[[Image:a10.gif|left|thumb|250px]]
[[Image:a10.gif|left|thumb|250px]]
Although the A-10 can carry a considerable weight of disposable stores, such as the standard AGM-65 Maverick missile or "Paveway" laser-guided bombs, its primary built-in weapon is the General Electric 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling gun. The weapon is one of the largest and most dangerous aircraft weapons known, and primarily fires depleted uranium shells, but can be modified to fire high-explosive rounds as well. The damage caused by the explosive shells firing prematurely due to impact of an explosive shell would be catastrophic to the aircraft and pilot. It is for this reason that a great deal of effort has been taken to protect the 5 ft wide, 9 ft long drum. There are many plates of differing thicknesses between the skin and the drum. These plates are called trigger plates because when an explosive shell hits a target it first penetrates its armor, then detonates. As the drum has many layers of thin armor, the shell's detonation is triggered before reaching the drum. A final layer of armor around the drum itself protects it from fragmentation damage. The entire apparatus sits inside the titanium tub protecting the pilot from AA fire. The gun is loaded by Syn-Tech's linked tube carrier GFU-7/E 30mm ammunition loading assembly cart. This vehicle is unique to the A-10 and the GAU-8.
Planners in the US Air Force had long felt that the A-10 was no longer useful in combat and would be unable to survive against modern air defenses. Plans had called for the A-10 fleet to be gradually retired and replaced by the F-16 during the 1990s. However, the A-10 soon proved its worth during [[Operation Desert Storm]] in 1991 when the Warthog was credited with destroying over 1,000 [[Iraqi]] tanks, 1,200 artillery pieces, and 2,000 other vehicles. Two A-10 pilots also shot down Iraqi helicopters over [[Kuwait]] during the conflict.
Planners in the US Air Force had long felt that the A-10 was no longer useful in combat and would be unable to survive against modern air defenses. Plans had called for the A-10 fleet to be gradually retired and replaced by the F-16 during the 1990s. However, the A-10 soon proved its worth during [[Operation Desert Storm]] in 1991 when the Warthog was credited with destroying over 1,000 [[Iraqi]] tanks, 1,200 artillery pieces, and 2,000 other vehicles. Two A-10 pilots also shot down Iraqi helicopters over [[Kuwait]] during the conflict.