The LAU-19 rocket pod holds 19 of the APWKS 70mm laser guided rockets each one with a varieties of warheads. The basic 13.5lb blast frag will obliterate a Shahed with its proximity fuse setting. Same for a 30foot skiff it’s overkill for either but its proximity setting means it only needs to be within 10 meters and boom problem solver.
The A10 has 11 hardpoints the three under the fuselage are wet for tanks and 3500&5000lb rated for the big 600 gallon ferry/ loiter tanks the inner wing pylons also can take the 600gal tanks but you lose 2 of 8 wing pylons and those inner ones can take triple racks of LAU-19 pods the next two outer wing pylons can take doubles of LAU19 and the other singles of course the drag of 16 LAU 19 pods would not be mission ideal the better load would be a sniper targeting pod in the outermost pylon and a ECM pod in the opposite wings outer for balance. Then single LAU 19 one each next inner, then a quad pack of Hellfires on each side, then a double pack on the inner heavy pylon. And twin 350 gal tanks under the fuselage. With way you have three levels of engagement. The 30mm bbbrrrrr for small fast cheap targets. 6X19 of 70mm laser guided rockets and 16 Helfires which double the warhead size of the 70mm and are used for larger Corvette sized ships like mine layers. Cost goes up with each step from 10K, 35K and 225K use the cheapest munition possible for target at hand.
Of course you could loiter MQ9s with rocket pods too they can take single LAU7 or LAU19 depending on which pylon point you hang them on plus 500lb JDAM and 250# SDBII both of those are 250K plus it’s the 70mm that changes the game at only 35K the problem with reapers is they need long land based runways unless they have the STOL kits and then LPH/LPA decks are enough and no 30mm brrrrrrrtttt then again gun pods are a thing the Russians love them. We make them in 20mm, 50cal and even a 4 barrel version of the A10 guns 30x173mm same rounds. Too heavy for a Reaper though.
https://weaponsystems.net/system/1051-GPU-5
This one is made for the Reaper
https://www.twz.com/43936/check-out-the-gun-pods-on-the-rugged-mojave-unmanned-aircraft
FN makes 50 cal pods that helos and Reapers can lift and uses standard NATO pylons and wiring.
https://fnamerica.com/products/fn-airborne-pod-systems/fn-hmp400-pod/
Add in some 70mm rockets under the pod for good measures too. This is the triple, they make 4,5,6 depending on the o uhh pylon max weight the Reaper carries 650 on it’s inner wing pylons and under the fuselage too.
https://fnamerica.com/products/fn-airborne-pod-systems/fn-rmp/
Case in point with this type used on helos.
Second post from the bottom is the most Soviet thing I have seen in a while. Triple gating guns in a pod is peak slav dakka.
https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=325.0
Point is the USA needs a cheap loitering gun and rocket truck to dump rounds and very cheap rockets vs missiles on swarms of boats and drones from above them.
The OV10 Broncos were perfect for this they can take off as is from a LPD/LHA no cat or wires needed and half the flight time cost of an A10 or less. The OV 10 carried a 20mm gating pod under the center at 1790lbs that held 1200 rounds the Broncos also packed 500# class 20mm pods these would fit on a Reaper too.
[GPU-2/A
A lightweight gun pod fitted with the M197 20 mm cannon, the unit weighs only 586 lb (266 kg) loaded with 300 rounds of ammunition. It has selectable fire rates of either 700 rpm or 1,500 rpm.[15] The pod is self-contained and powered by a Ni-Cad rechargeable battery, with sufficient charge to expend three complete loads before needing to be replaced.[16] This weapon has been tested on the A-37 Dragonfly and OV-10 Bronco.[17][18]- Ai
Speaking of the A-37 Dragonfly
It also had good loiter and packed a punch on the cheap. Something the fighter mafia hates and their MIC kickback generals hate too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_A-37_Dragonfly
Iran proves once your SEAD aircraft smash the AA and area air defense you need CAS bomb trucks with loiter there is no substitute they can be drone based or piloted but you need high and slow and low and slow too.
We should be bulding a F ton of these little buggers , cheap, super long loiter , and long range too. It’s basically a P51 Mustang with a turbo prop. Armed to the teeth with 50 cal , 20mm and 70mm guided rockets which also come in fire and forget.
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/at-6b-light-attack/
Effectively mini sidewinders with backup laser guided mode. Remember the Redeye and Stinger MANPADs both are based off the original 70mm rocket body and motors.
https://www.twz.com/air/infrared-seeker-for-apkws-guided-70mm-rockets-unveiled
Also bring back peak Vietnam era dakka they slung a 20mm turret under the OV10 and sent it out truck and sampan busting the there is great vids of it circling and just dumping rounds into all sorts of ground and pound. Against a Shahed it would be lethal no need to maneuver all around just point the gun and brrrr no more drone.
https://www.reddit.com/r/WarplanePorn/comments/1du7gm3/ov10_bronco_with_20mm_cannon_1515x1176/