General Dynamics showcased the GAU-19 .50 caliber Gatling gun at AUSA 2014

During AUSA 2014, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems presented its GAU-19/B. This three-barrel .50 (12.7 mm) Gatling gun is adaptable on a multitude of platforms and can provide an heavy fire support. This weapon also benefits from a light weight, a minimal maintenance and a high reliability.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems manufactures the lightweight GAU-19/B Gatling gun for application on a variety of air, land and sea platforms, including helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, land-based vehicles, naval vessels and high-speed patrol boats.

With a rate of fire of 1,300 shots per minute, the .50 caliber GAU-19/B provides superior firepower in a lightweight system. The total system weight (106 pounds) of the three-barrel GAU-19/B is neutral to that of a single-barrel machine gun and more than 30 pounds lighter than the GAU-19/A, an other three-barrel Gatling gun developed by General Dynamics mainly for aircraft armament. The simple, low-cost weapon system offers minimal maintenance and high reliability: GAU-19/B has an unmatched 40,000 mean rounds between failure. Initial scheduled maintenance begins at 35,000 rounds and the barrels replacement comes up between 35,000 and 50,000 rounds.

The GAU-19/B uses standard NATO .50 caliber M9-linked ammunition with a capacity of 500 to 1,200 rounds. The gun’s automatic clearing cycle ensures live rounds are not left in the gun. Low maintenance, light weight and devastating firepower make the GAU-19/B the ideal weapon system for air, land or sea operations.

The GAU-19/B is effective in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The weapon provides highly effective firepower against area suppression and point targets, as well as being ideally suited for utility, scout and attack helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Mounted on armored personnel carriers or utility vehicles, such as the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, the GAU-19/B offers a high rate of fire in a simple, low-cost weapon system and produces devastating firepower against light vehicles and ground forces. Installed as secondary armament on larger weapon systems, the GAU-19/B affords protection against close-in ground threats and provides air defense capability.

The GAU-19/B is ideal for use on a variety of surface navy ships and patrol boats. On light patrol boats, the GAU-19/B provides lethal suppressive firepower. When installed on larger naval craft, the weapon system offers close-in protection against smaller seabased threats. Firing at 1,300 shots per minute, the GAU-19/B provides unparalleled firepower to counter both air attacks and high-speed surface threats.