Air-to-ground weaponry: Difference between revisions
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{{see|Machine gun|Autocannon}} |
{{see|Machine gun|Autocannon}} |
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[[File:DFW C.V (Av) banking.jpg|thumb|Machine gun LMG 14 Parabellum.]] |
[[File:DFW C.V (Av) banking.jpg|thumb|Machine gun LMG 14 Parabellum.]] |
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[[File:P-47 040315-F-9999G-029.jpg|thumb|[[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]], 8 [[Browning M2]].]] |
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[[File:GAU-8 meets VW Type 1.jpg|thumb|[[GAU-8 Avenger]], [[A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10 Thunderbolt]].]] |
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[[File:MXU-470.jpg|thumb|[[Minigun]] [[MXU-470]], [[gunship]] [[AC-47 Spooky]].]] |
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[[File:AH-64.jpg|thumb|M230 30mm, [[AH-64 Apache]].]] |
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Machine guns were one of the first weapons adapted on aircraft, as early as the first world war. They were used to hunt down other aircraft, but also shooting at infantry, vehicles and installations. This weapon is usually mounted on or in the nose, in or under the wings, or on the sides of the hull (in [[gunship]]s). Those weapons evolved developing different aspects of those weapons : caliber, fire rate, number of machine gun mounted. |
Machine guns were one of the first weapons adapted on aircraft, as early as the first world war. They were used to hunt down other aircraft, but also shooting at infantry, vehicles and installations. This weapon is usually mounted on or in the nose, in or under the wings, or on the sides of the hull (in [[gunship]]s). Those weapons evolved developing different aspects of those weapons : caliber, fire rate, number of machine gun mounted. |
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During World War II, American planes were mounted with a large number of low caliber machine guns, while European nations, and especially the Germans, developed bigger caliber weapons, creating the first autocanons. Gatling guns at that time were not used, as the rail guns were more useful. |
During World War II, American planes were mounted with a large number of low caliber machine guns, while European nations, and especially the Germans, developed bigger caliber weapons, creating the first autocanons. Gatling guns at that time were not used, as the rail guns were more useful. |
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Later, the USA developed new weapons for its vehicles, using the gatling design, as for the [[M61 Vulcan]] or the [[GAU-8 Avenger]] of the [[A-10 Thunderbolt]]. They are the main weapon system of American Gunships, as the AC 130. |
Later, the USA developed new weapons for its vehicles, using the gatling design, as for the [[M61 Vulcan]] or the [[GAU-8 Avenger]] of the [[A-10 Thunderbolt]]. They are the main weapon system of American Gunships, as the AC 130. |
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Revision as of 23:00, 7 September 2009
 | This article contains too many pictures for its overall length. |
Air-to-ground weaponry includes all weapons used by airplanes and helicopters to destroy ground targets. This class of weapons have, since the first world war, take a great importance on the conduct of war. It's the main weaponry of ground-attack aircrafts, helicopters and bombers, as for fighter-bombers and strike fighters too. Nowadays, most aerial vehicles, including fighters and UAV are also able to use those weapons in warfare.
A wide variety of weapons exist for this purpose, depending on range, weight, type of technology and their targets.
Machine gun
_banking.jpg)
Machine guns were one of the first weapons adapted on aircraft, as early as the first world war. They were used to hunt down other aircraft, but also shooting at infantry, vehicles and installations. This weapon is usually mounted on or in the nose, in or under the wings, or on the sides of the hull (in gunships). Those weapons evolved developing different aspects of those weapons : caliber, fire rate, number of machine gun mounted.
During World War II, American planes were mounted with a large number of low caliber machine guns, while European nations, and especially the Germans, developed bigger caliber weapons, creating the first autocanons. Gatling guns at that time were not used, as the rail guns were more useful.
Later, the USA developed new weapons for its vehicles, using the gatling design, as for the M61 Vulcan or the GAU-8 Avenger of the A-10 Thunderbolt. They are the main weapon system of American Gunships, as the AC 130.
Grenade launcher
Some helicopters are equipped with automatic grenade launchers, like the M75 and the M129, firing 40x53mm grenades.
Bomb
Rocket
