USAF’s GAU-5A Takedown Survival Rifle Enters Service

[GOYABEAN]

Back in June 2018, we reported on the US Air Force’s new survival/self-defence weapon – the GAU-5A. The GAU-5A is an upgrade to the M4 which allows it to be stowed in the survival kitof US Air Force fighter jets. The Aircrew Self Defense Weapons (ASDW) is fitted with a takedown system that allows the rifle’s barrel to be detached from the receiver and it is also fitted with a folding pistol grip.

The ASDW uses the Quick Release Barrel (or QBR) from Cry Havoc Tactical and what appears to be a FAB Defense AGF-43S Folding Pistol Grip. The barrel assembly now has a longer MLOK forend with the original front sight post removed, replaced by folding BUIS. Functionally, the carbine remains a direct gas impingement weapon with a standard M4 lower receiver. The new ASDWs began entering service this spring with the 3rd Wing, which operates F-22 Raptors, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska sharing some photos of pilots training with the newly updated carbines at the range.


USAF's GAU-5A Takedown Survival Rifle Enters Service -

 

[1911guy]

Glad to see they finally got something decent. (Vietnam war) I can remember dropping M16 to downed pilots. Survival kit had zilch for self defense. We carried pistols only.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

So rad!

 

[Gonzobird]

And I thought the old AR-7s I have are cool...

 

[Podmonkey]

Ooooooooooh! And what's that I see? An Mlok handguard that's what! Told some of y'all it would see eventual adoption in the military.
Now what are the quad rail luddites gonna fall back to?

 

[SuffolkArms]

Has anybody tried one of these Cry Havoc systems? I considered putting one on an SCR a while back - with the SCR's rat tail being such a pain in the ass to line up when assembling an upper to the proprietary lower this would be quite helpful.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Ooooooooooh! And what's that I see? An Mlok handguard that's what! Told some of y'all it would see eventual adoption in the military.
Now what are the quad rail luddites gonna fall back to?

Some people cant see 2ft infront if them and continue to look 20 years behind.

It's going to probably be another 20-30 years before anyone comes up with something better than M-lok

 

[BDinPutnam]

Oh to live in America. That's one M4-gery I would build in a heartbeat. Love the folding grip.

 

[Podmonkey]

Oh to live in America. That's one M4-gery I would build in a heartbeat. Love the folding grip.

The folding grip though, that's only necessary for it to fit in the specific container the USAF needs it too. I'd personally never bother with it.

 

[BDinPutnam]

The folding grip though, that's only necessary for it to fit in the specific container the USAF needs it too. I'd personally never bother with it.

I was thinking backpack.

 

[Podmonkey]

I was thinking backpack.

Now that I think about it reducing protrusions would be helpful in a backpack yes.
That said you already have a good NY compliant backpack gun in the KelTec SU-16CA.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Now that I think about it reducing protrusions would be helpful in a backpack yes.
That said you already have a good NY compliant backpack gun in the KelTec SU-16CA.