Is machine weaponry on fighter jets becoming obsolete? Perhaps—at least the trend has been against them for a long time. That said, they are not going anywhere for a long time yet. In fact, United States Air Force fighter jets have been observed being fired in anger multiple times in 2024. While time will tell if the sixth-generation NGAD fighter (currently being developed) will feature traditional arms, all US fighters in service today have guns (or can be fitted with external pods).

1960s was too early to retire the gun

Those who say the gun will not be obsolete on fighter jets will point out that the F-4 Phantom II was originally produced without a gun. Then, the Air Force quickly realized that missiles were not yet mature enough and quickly fitted a 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan cannon with 640 rounds. US Navy Phantoms never had guns.

Currently, all US fighter jets have guns. However, it is difficult to imagine the niche scenarios where the F-22 Raptor would use its M61 Vulcan gun (short of Top Gun: Maverick scenarios where enemy fighters come up and exchange hand signals). It should also be pointed out that missiles can't be used at close range (meaning that without guns, even fifth-generation fighters have difficulty defending themselves if an enemy aircraft somehow gets too close).

In one highly publicized 2021 incident, a German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter used its guns to score a mock shootdown of an F-22 Raptor. Alex Hollings explains in depth the nuances of how this happened (and the significance of the exercise).

No bombers with tail guns

The B-52 Stratofortress was built with machine guns for self-defense - and there are reports its tail gunners shot down North Vietnamese fighter jets in 1972. However, by 1992, all tailguns had been removed from the B-52 (and The War Zone reported the last B-52 tailgunner retired in 2020). The B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit never had tailguns.

US fighter jets used guns in 2024

A recent reported instance where American fighter jets used their guns was in the recent Iranian missile and drone strike on Israel. Israeli, American, and British fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the slow-flying drones before they could hit their targets in Israel. Retired F-14 Tomcat radar intercept officer Ward Carroll reported how 14 F-15Es from the 494th Fighter Squadron participated in the nighttime mission on this YouTube channel.

Ward Caroll stated, "From the award ceremony, we know at least one of them [F-15Es] went, what we call Winchester, the term for when you completely run out of missiles." After running out of missiles, one pilot decided to try to engage the drones (in pitch black) with his gun. "To gun down a target, you have to be close to it, around 1,000 feet," Caroll states, "...[the pilot] pulled the trigger, unleashing a volley from the gating gun. He missed. They still had bullets but thought the risk was too great, so they climbed back up..."

The incident arguably shows that guns are still useful (or at least used). But still, in this night-fighting scenario, the gun was used as a last resort after running out of missiles and was ineffective.

Additionally, the A-10 Warthog also used its gun in 2024. As of the time of writing (December 2024), the A-10 was filmed just days ago firing its gun in anger, apparently at militants in Syria.

Retirement of the GAU-8 Avenger

The fighter jet with the most famous autocannon is easily the A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog." The aircraft is loved for its massive, high-power GAU-8 Avenger autocannon, which is almost 20 feet long and fires a steady 3,900 rounds a minute (65 rounds per second).

Many on online forums will point out the Warthog's gun was designed to be a tank buster. While that is true, others (like Professor Justin Bronks from the think tank Rusi) point out that most of the Warthog's missions are carried out with its Hellfire and other missiles (the gun only being used in niche scenarios).

However, the Air Force is now retiring the Warthog, and unless policy changes, the A-10s are set to retire before 2030, leaving their GAU-8 Avenger autocannons silent.

The F-35 Lightning II's guns

Many may point out that the F-35A's 25mm gun is incomparable to the Warthog's. And that is true. But then again, the F-35 is not really expected to be in a position to fire its gun—the gun appears to be low down on the priority list for the F-35. So much so, that the F-35B and F-35C do not even come fitted with an internal gun.

China's new J-20 fighter apparently does not have a gun

The F-35A is the only F-35 variant with an internal gun. According to The War Zone, while the F-35A has been in service since 2016, its four-barreled GAU-22/A autocannon only became effective and could shoot straight in 2024. It seems the gun wasn't a priority for the jet. Even though the F-35A only carries 180 rounds, at $131 each, a full F-35A magazine load would cost $23,580.

The F-35B and F-35C must be fitted with the external GPU-9/A gun pod mounted on the centerline. The pod carried 220 rounds of 25mm PGu-48/B (called Fragible Armor Piercing) with a tungsten core. Rheinmetall, the German defense contractor manufacturing the rounds, says the ammo is well-suited for engaging enemy aircraft and armored vehicles.

While guns may not be as useful to fighter jets as they once were, they will remain part of a fighter jet's armament for the foreseeable future.