GAU-13

The GAU-13 is a four-barreled, Gatling-type 30 mm autocannon developed by General Electric, now Lockheed Martin. It is a lighter, simplified version of the GAU-8 Avenger cannon used in the A-10 Thunderbolt II, designed for air-to-ground roles and potentially for air-to-air combat. While sharing the same 30x173mm ammunition as the GAU-8, the GAU-13's four barrels provide a lower rate of fire, typically around 2,400 rounds per minute.

The primary intended application for the GAU-13 was in the GPU-5/A gun pod, designed to be carried on aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F/A-18 Hornet. This pod provided a significant increase in firepower for these aircraft, allowing them to engage armored targets and ground fortifications. However, the GPU-5/A pod suffered from accuracy problems and was not widely adopted by the United States Air Force.

Despite not achieving widespread operational use, the GAU-13 remains an important development in the history of Gatling-type autocannons, showcasing the effort to adapt the formidable firepower of the GAU-8 into a more versatile and deployable system. It illustrates a balance between firepower, weight, and integration challenges in aircraft armament design.