An A-10 Thunderbolt II is refueled over southern Afghanistan. The most prominent feature of the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the 30 mm GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling-gun cannon. This weapon is capable of firing 3,900 rounds a minute and can defeat an array of ground targets, including tanks. Both the A-10 and GAU-8 entered service in 1977, and the gun represents 16 percent of the aircraft's weight.