What material is the A-10's ammunition penetrator made of?

Short answer

Depleted uranium: the PGU-14/B projectile has a lightweight cast aluminum body wrapped around a smaller-caliber depleted uranium penetrator core. That projectile weighs about 14.0 oz (395 g). With armor-piercing incendiary ammunition, muzzle velocity is 1,013 m/s.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

What material is the A-10's ammunition penetrator made of?

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II in flightAndrew Basterfield (CC BY SA), vía commons

A depleted uranium core

The PGU-14/B projectile has a lightweight cast aluminum body wrapped around a smaller-caliber depleted uranium penetrator core. The projectile's weight is around 14.0 oz (395 g, 6,096 grains). The muzzle velocity when firing armor-piercing incendiary ammunition is 1,013 m/s.

The gun that fires it

The Avenger's rate of fire was originally selectable, at 2,100 rounds per minute on the low setting and 4,200 on the high setting, and was later fixed at 3,900. The complete weapon system, properly designated the A/A 49E-6 Gun System, amounts to roughly 17% of the A-10's empty weight. With a maximum ammunition load, the complete weapon, including feed system and drum, weighs 4,029 lb (1,828 kg). The gun alone weighs 620 lb (280 kg).

The A-10, built around the weapon

The Thunderbolt II's airframe was designed around this powerful 30 mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary automatic cannon. The cockpit and part of the flight control systems are protected by 1,200 lb (540 kg) of titanium aircraft armor. The YA-10 was declared the winner on January 18, 1973, over a YA-9 that fully met the USAF's requirements.