Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1

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	Weapon: Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1980 Caliber: 30x165mm Action: Short Recoil Overall Length (mm): 1978.0 Overall Length (in): 77.87 Weight (kg): 46.00 Weight (pounds): 101.41 Effective Range (m): 1800 m Effective Range (yards): 1968.5

The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 is a single-barrel, 30mm autocannon developed in the 1970s by Soviet designers V.P. Gryazev and A.G. Shipunov. It was designed to be a lightweight, high-velocity aircraft cannon for Soviet fourth-generation fighters. Unlike multi-barrel rotary cannons, the GSh-30-1 uses a short recoil operation mechanism that enables it to achieve a high rate of fire-approximately 1,500 to 1,800 rounds per minute-while maintaining a relatively compact and simple design. The weapon fires 30x165mm ammunition and is notable for its extreme muzzle velocity of around 860 m/s, making it highly effective against both air and ground targets.

The GSh-30-1 was introduced into service in the early 1980s and has been installed on a range of modern Russian aircraft, including the MiG-29 Fulcrum, Su-27 Flanker, Su-30, Su-33, Su-35, and the Su-57. Its relatively light weight (around 46 kg) allows it to be mounted internally, usually in the fuselage or wing root, with a typical ammunition load of 150-180 rounds. Though exact production figures remain classified, the cannon has been manufactured in large numbers by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, Russia, and remains in service with the Russian Air Force and several export customers to this day.

The GSh-30-1 has earned a fearsome reputation for its destructive power and reliability. It is considered one of the most powerful single-barrel cannons in active fighter aircraft, capable of downing enemy planes with a short burst or disabling ground targets with armor-piercing or high-explosive shells. The cannon's effectiveness was demonstrated during combat operations in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine, where Russian aircraft used it for close air support and air-to-air engagements. Its high recoil and barrel wear, however, mean that pilots must be trained to use it in short, controlled bursts. Despite these limitations, the GSh-30-1 remains a mainstay of Russian tactical aviation.

The GSh-30-1 fires 30x165mm ammunition, developed specifically for high-velocity autocannons. Several ammunition types are available, including High-Explosive Incendiary (HEI), Armor-Piercing Incendiary (API), and Fragmentation-High Explosive (FRAG-HE) rounds. HEI rounds are designed to detonate on impact, maximizing damage against aerial targets. API rounds are used for penetrating lightly armored vehicles or aircraft components, often with incendiary effects to ignite internal systems. Practice and inert rounds are also used for training purposes. The combination of high muzzle velocity and specialized ammunition gives the GSh-30-1 exceptional lethality in both air combat and ground attack roles.