View source for GAU-19

{{short description|Electrically-driven heavy machine gun}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = GAU-19/B
| image              = GAU 19A GECAL 50 2.jpg
| caption            = 
| origin             = United States
| type               = Rotary [[heavy machine gun]]
| is_ranged          = yes
| service            = 
| used_by            = See [[GAU-19#History|History]]
| wars               = 
| designer           = [[General Electric]]
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = [[General Dynamics]]
| production_date    = GAU-19/A: 1983–present GAU-19/B: 2012–present
| number             = 
| variants           = 3-barrel or 6-barrel
| weight             = GAU-19/A:138 lbs. (63kg) GAU-19/B:106 lbs. (48kg)
| length             = 53.9 in. (1,369 mm)
| part_length        = 36 in. (914 mm)
| width              = 13.5 in. (343 mm)
| height             = 15 in. (381 mm)
| cartridge          = [[.50 BMG]] (12.7×99mm NATO)
| barrels            = 3 or 6
| action             = Electric
| rate               = 1,000, 1,300 or 2,000 rounds per minute
| velocity           = 2,910 fps (887 m/s)
| range              = 1,800 m
| max_range          = 6,000 m
| feed               = linkless or M9 linked [[Belt (firearm)|belt]]
| sights             = 
}}

The '''GAU-19/A''' ('''GECAL 50''') is an electrically driven, three-barrel [[rotary cannon|rotary]] [[heavy machine gun]] that fires the [[.50 BMG]] (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge.

==Technical specifications==
The GAU-19/A is designed to accept standard NATO .50 caliber M9-linked ammunition. The [[rate of fire]] is selectable to be either 1,000 or 2,000 rounds per minute. The [[Humvee]] armament kit version fires at 1,300 rounds per minute. The average recoil force when firing is 382 lb/ft,  495 lb/ft or 629 lb/ft depending on firing rate. In January 2012, General Dynamics announced they would be delivering a new version designated '''GAU-19/B'''. It provides the same firepower in a lighter platform, weighing {{convert|48|kg|lb}} and optimized for a firing rate of 1,300 rounds per minute and an average recoil force of 562 lb/ft.<ref name="GAU-19/B">[http://www.gdatp.com/media/2012/2012_01_26.asp GD delivers GAU-19/B] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716200637/http://www.gdatp.com/Media/2012/2012_01_26.asp |date=16 July 2012 }} - General Dynamics</ref> Both variants can be configured for an ammunition capacity of 500–1,200 rounds. Both variants are reliable to 40,000 mean rounds between failure.

==History==
[[File:GAU 19A GECAL 50 1.jpg|thumb|GAU-19/B mounted. Eurosatory Paris, 2016.]]
The ''GECAL 50'' was first manufactured by [[General Electric]], then by [[Lockheed Martin]], and now by [[General Dynamics]]. Design work began in 1982. Early prototypes had six barrels, but a three-barreled configuration is now standard. The GAU-19/A was originally designed as a larger, more potent version of the M134 [[Minigun]]. Due to the loss of nine helicopters [[Invasion of Grenada|in Grenada]], GE started building prototypes of the weapon in both a three-barreled and a six-barreled configuration. The six-barreled version was designed to fire 4,000 rounds per minute, and could be adapted to fire up to 8,000 rounds per minute. The GAU-19 takes 0.4 seconds to reach maximum firing rate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2943.html |title=GAU-19/A (GECAL 50) 12.7 mm Gun (United States), Guns - Integral and mounted |date= 21 January 2008 |work=Jane's Air-Launched Weapons |publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323071502/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2943.html |archive-date=23 March 2009 |access-date=29 March 2011}}</ref> Soon it was recommended as a potential armament for the [[Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey|V-22 Osprey]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=General Dynamics Selected to Develop Turreted Gun System for V-22 Aircraft |publisher=[[General Dynamics|General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products]] |date=7 September 2000 |url=http://www.gdatp.com/media/releases/GDATP-PR0907000000000001.asp |access-date=29 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717135813/http://www.gdatp.com/media/releases/GDATP-PR0907000000000001.asp |archive-date=17 July 2011 }}</ref> The magazine would be located underneath the cabin floor and could be reloaded in-flight. However, plans to mount the gun were later dropped.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1665835-6,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226174646/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1665835-6,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 December 2008 | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | title=V-22 Osprey: A Flying Shame | date=26 September 2007 | access-date=29 March 2011 | first=Mark | last=Thompson}}</ref> In December 1992 the US Navy issued a letter of qualification for GAU-19/A integration and use on naval aircraft. In 2005, the GAU-19/A was approved to be mounted on the [[OH-58 Kiowa|OH-58D Kiowa]] helicopter. It also could have been used on the Army's now cancelled [[ARH-70]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&sid=cp108omsRF&refer=&r_n=sr260.108&db_id=108&item=&sel=TOC_134924 |title=ARMY AIRCRAFT |date=11 May 2004 |work=Committee Reports - 108th Congress (2003–2004) - Senate Report 108-260 |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |access-date=29 March 2011 |archive-date=6 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206154345/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1999, the United States sent 28 GAU-19s to [[Colombia]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Memorandum for Correspondents No. 176-M |url=http://www.defense.gov/news/Nov1999/m11101999_m176-99.html |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |date=10 November 1999 |access-date=29 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608005544/http://www.defense.gov/news/Nov1999/m11101999_m176-99.html |archive-date=8 June 2011 }}</ref> [[Oman]] is known to use the GAU-19/A mounted on their HMMWVs. The Mexican Navy uses MDH [[MD-902]] series helicopters with the GAU-19/A system mounted for anti-narcotics operations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews/02fidae/special.htm |title=Region's Military Seeks to Modernize . . . But Tight Funding Forces Ingenuity |last1=Fricker |first1=John |date=2002 |work=[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |access-date=29 March 2011 |archive-date=4 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404114857/http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews/02fidae/special.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2010 General Dynamics began developing the lighter weight GAU-19/B in response to an urgent needs statement issued by the Armed Scout Helicopter Program Office. By April 2011 flight testing had begun and by January 2012, the U.S. Army ordered 30 GAU-19/B versions for use on helicopters. All were delivered by the next month.<ref name="GAU-19/B"/> In August 2012 the GAU-19/B received a safety confirmation from the US Army Evaluation Center for use on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

Both GAU-19 variants have been integrated on naval vessels (tripod and remote weapons station), vehicles (turret and remotely operated), and on both rotary and fixed wing aircraft (externally mounted under wing fixed forward and man fired from the aircraft door or cargo ramp). Most recently a self-contained gun pod was developed by Fulcrum Concepts LLC <ref>{{cite web|title=GP-19|publisher=Fulcrum Concepts LLC|location=[[Mattaponi, Virginia|Mattaponi, VA]]|url=https://fulcrumconceptsllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PFS_gp-19_06.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803144442/https://fulcrumconceptsllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PFS_gp-19_06.pdf|archive-date=August 3, 2022|url-status=dead|access-date=August 11, 2024}}</ref>

==Users==
[[File:GAU-19 Users.png|thumb|Map with GAU-19 users in blue]]
*{{flag|Colombia}}: Used by [[Drug Enforcement troops]], and the [[Colombian National Police]], AH-60L ARPIA III/IV COIN attack helicopter, [[Douglas AC-47 Spooky#Variants|AC-47T CAS gunship]]
*{{flag|Czechia}}: 12 GAU-19B <ref name="Arms Sale Notification 06/13/2019">{{cite web |title=Federal Register :: Request Access |date=13 June 2019 |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/06/13/2019-12507/arms-sales-notification}}</ref>
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}<ref name="Arms Sale Notification 11/08/2018">{{cite web | url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/11/08/2018-24410/arms-sales-notification | title=Federal Register :: Request Access | date=8 November 2018 }}</ref>
*{{flag|Japan}}: Used by [[Japan Coast Guard]], on [[List of Japan Coast Guard vessels and aircraft#PC (Patrol Craft)|PC ''Kagayuki'' class]]
*{{flag|Mexico}}: Used by the [[Mexican Air Force]] and the [[Mexican Navy]] on [[Humvee]]s, [[UH-60]] Black Hawks, and the [[MD Explorer]]
*{{flag|Oman}}: Used on Army HMMWV.
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}: Used on [[Boeing AH-6|AH6i]]
*{{flag|Thailand}}: 4 GAU-19/B for use on AH6i <ref name="Defense Security Cooperation Agency News Release">{{cite web|url=https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/thailand-ah-6i-helicopters|title=Thailand – AH-6i Helicopters &#124; Defense Security Cooperation Agency|website=www.dsca.mil}}</ref>
*{{flag|Turkey}}
*{{flag|UAE}}: Used on S70M Blackhawks, [[Bell 407]] and naval vessels and HMMWVs.
*{{flag|United States}}

==See also==
*{{annotated link|M61 Vulcan}}
*{{annotated link|M134 Minigun}}
*{{annotated link|XM214 Microgun}}
*{{annotated link|M197 electric cannon}}
*{{annotated link|GAU-12 Equalizer}}
*{{annotated link|GAU-8 Avenger}}
*{{annotated link|Yakushev-Borzov YakB-12.7mm machine gun}}
*{{annotated link|List of multiple-barrel firearms}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |editor-first=Terry J. |editor-last=Gander |title=Jane's Infantry Weapons 1997–98 |year=1997 |edition=23rd |publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]] |location=[[Coulsdon|Coulsdon, UK]] |isbn=0-7106-1548-5|page=298}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.gdatp.com/Products/PDFs/GAU-19%20External.pdf |title=General Dynamics Fact Sheet }}&nbsp;{{small|(401 KB)}}

==External links==
*[http://www.gd-ots.com/armament_systems/mbw_GAU-19A.html General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems GAU-19/A page]
*[http://www.gd-ots.com/armament_systems/mbw_GAU-19B.html General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems GAU-19/B page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310220750/http://www.combatfilms.com/cfrtv_archive_0005.asp GAU-19 Gatling Gun Video]
*[http://www.canit.se/~griffon/aviation/text/akandata.htm List of Military Gatling & Revolver cannons]
*[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_50cal-GAU-19_MG.htm Information at Navy weapons]

{{Multiple Barrel Firearms}}
{{Modern Gatling Guns}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gau-19}}
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Multi-barrel machine guns]]
[[Category:.50 BMG machine guns]]
[[Category:Machine guns of the United States]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Rotary machine guns]]