The GAU-8 won&#x27;t penetrate the front armor of a modern tank, but I doubt it could penetrate the front armor of 1980s era tanks, either.  However, there isn&#x27;t a tank in the world that will remain operational after a properly executed A-10 gun attack from the top or sides.<p>Don&#x27;t get me wrong - I love the A-10, but it&#x27;s pretty much obsolete at this point.  Not because you can&#x27;t use it to destroy tanks, but because there are much cheaper, safer, and more efficient ways to destroy tanks than low-and-slow strafing.  A properly equipped strike aircraft can hit a tank with a laser guided bomb without ever exposing itself to AAA or MANPADS fire.<p>And if we&#x27;re just going to mow down groups of jihadis with rusty AK-47s we should be using something cheaper like the <i>Super Tucano II</i>.