#Avenger

Today’s Photo of the Day is the well-known Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, and you can imagine the sound its  GAU-8 Avenger 30 mm rotary cannon makes as it engages a simulated target.

Creating improvised firearms is one thing, but a recent propaganda video released by the Yemeni rebel and terrorist group Ansar Allah (better known as the Houthis) threw the spotlight on some weapons that take this to the next level. 20mm, 23mm, and even 30mm caliber improvised cannons are being produced by the Houthis in makeshift workshops, representing some of the largest and most powerful improvised small arms ever produced. Footage of the cannons firing, as well as their manufacture was included in the video. Despite their large caliber, the cannons appear to be quite crude indeed, with many parts shown being ground with dremel tools, and with scope bases and muzzle brakes simply being welded together. The barrels for the cannons appear to come from military autocannons. The barrels of 20mm Hasem cannon bear the distinctive “hump” towards the muzzle of M61 Vulcan cannon barrels, for instance – which may be an indication that the barrels are being supplied to the Houthis by the Iranians, who have stockpiles of Vulcan barrels for their F-4 and F-14 fighter aircraft.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II is now constantly under daily attack by its own Air Force trying to cut its budget and buy a few more Joint Strike Fighters. But, to those on the ground, the Warthog is an indispensable piece of flying artillery.