Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Military & Police
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
New Year, New FREE GUN FRIDAY! Enter to WIN the Smith & Wesson and Black Hills package.

USAF to Equip Airmen with GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon

Tactical-Life by Tactical-Life
February 20, 2020
in Guns, News, Rifles
0
GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon rifle firing

Lt. Gen. Chris Nowland, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, fires a GAU-5 at the off base shooting range outside of Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, March 24, 2016. American service members have used the GAU-5 since the 1970s.

0
SHARES
82
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon rifle firing
Lt. Gen. Chris Nowland, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, fires a GAU-5 at the off base shooting range outside of Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, March 24, 2016. American service members have used the GAU-5 since the 1970s.
GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon rifle ejection seat
From left, Airman 1st Class Ryan Davis, 5th Maintenance Squadron aircrew egress systems apprentice, and Senior Airman Brendon Krabill, aircrew egress systems journeyman, remove shrouds from an ejection seat at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Dec. 18, 2017. These maintainers use time-changing explosive cartridges that ensure all components work in proper sequence.
GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon rifle flair search and rescue
Lt. Col. John Buske, director of operations for the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Operations Support Squadron, signals an extraction team while assuming the role of downed survivor for the CSAREX ’18 search and rescue exercise at Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range in central Wisconsin June 26, 2018. Members of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing, 128th Air Control Squadron and 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment joined Airmen assigned to the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center for the annual exercise designed to familiarize participants with the identification, location and rescue of survivors in a potential high threat environment.

The U.S. Air Force is equipping its airmen with a new carbine: the GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon.

Troy XM177E2 rifle right angle
RELATED STORY

Jungle Warrior: Troy Recreates the Vietnam-Era XM177E2

GAU-5A Rifle

Based on the M4 carbine, the GAU-5A features Cry Havoc Tactical’s Quick Release Barrel, the Air Force Times reports. It’s designed to fit into the standard survival kit under the ejection seat for downed fighter and bomber crews.

“The [GAU-5A] and four full magazines, 30 rounds [each], must all fit in the ejection seat survival kit,” said Maj. Docleia Gibson, Air Combat Command spokeswoman. “This has driven the dimension of 16 x 14 x 3.5 inches.”

In a separate statement to The Firearm Blog, Gibson added that the GAU-5A is “capable of firing a 3-round burst. It uses standard 5.56mm ammunition with an effective range beyond 200m. The weapon can be assembled/disassembled in 60 seconds without tools.”

Gibson told Military.com that the rifle will not replace anything in the USAF survival pack.

“This is just an addition to the current capability that they already have,” she said.

Designation

Interestingly, as The Drive points out, the Air Force already used the GAU-5A designation back in the Vietnam War for a M16 rifle variant. That particular model was equipped with a 10-inch barrel, shorter than the 14.5-inch barrel found on today’s M4s. In addition, the GAU-5A/A was the service’s version of the XM177E2 rifle used by MACV-SOG soldiers. Furthermore, beginning in the ’90s, both of these rifles were modified into a configuration called the GUU-5/P. If the USAF wanted the GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon to be a GAU-5A variant, it would have been designated the GAU-5B/A.

Fielding

In any event, the new GAU-5A is being made at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas at a rate of 100 per week. Air Combat Command expects 2,137 in total to be fielded to combat-coded A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, F-15C, F-15E, F-16, and F-22 aircraft.

“The ASDW will be given to all combat-coded ejection aircraft,” said Gibson. “There are continuous evaluations of Air Force programs and policies. The ASDW allows aircrew to have a longer stand-off range.”

Prior to the new GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon, crews used a knife or a personal sidearm for self defense.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

The cover of the new Heritage Journal 2023.

Athlon Outdoors & Heritage Firearms Release HERITAGE JOURNAL 2023

The Daniel Defense MK12 Alpine Predator.

Daniel Defense Limited Series MK12 Alpine Predator Rifle Sells Out in 30 Minutes

The DSI Variant 1 comes out-of-the-box-ready for 3-gun.

A 3-Gunner’s Dream: The Dark Storm Industries Variant 1 Rifle

The MAC Defense Industries MAC19.

The MAC Defense Industries MAC19 Is a Custom Glock 19 Built to Fight

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The cover of the new Heritage Journal 2023.

Athlon Outdoors & Heritage Firearms Release HERITAGE JOURNAL 2023

Welcome to Heritage country! The American Shooting tradition and heritage runs as far back as the black powder days of...

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

The upgraded Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical is built for long-range shooting.

FIRST LOOK: Rounds Downrange With the new Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

The Dicken Drill is named for Eli Dicken who saved many lives in the Greenwood Mall

The Elisjsha Dicken Drill

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • Videos
  • News
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.