A specialized aircraft cannon can shred armor by firing metal that sharpens itself on impact

Technology
A specialized aircraft cannon can shred armor by firing metal that sharpens itself on impact

The A-10 Warthog's massive rotary cannon utilizes depleted uranium rounds that actually become sharper as they pierce thick tank armor, turning a devastating kinetic impact into a self-honing cutting force.

The GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon is a marvel of military engineering, firing 30mm depleted uranium rounds at a staggering 3,900 rounds per minute. Because depleted uranium is 1.67 times denser than lead, it carries over 300,000 joules of kinetic energy. Upon impact with heavy armor, the metal exhibits a unique property called adiabatic shearing; instead of mushrooming and slowing down like lead, the material sloughs off its edges to remain sharp, slicing through steel like a hot knife through butter.

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