Afanasev Makarov AM-23

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	Weapon: Afanasev Makarov AM-23 Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1954 Caliber: 23x115mm Action: Twin-Barrelled Cannon Overall Length (mm): 1467.0 Overall Length (in): 57.76 Weight (kg): 43.00 Weight (pounds): 94.8 Effective Range (m): 2000 m Effective Range (yards): 2187.23

The Afanasev Makarov AM-23 was a Soviet 23mm aircraft autocannon developed in the early 1950s as a lightweight, high-rate-of-fire weapon for use in bombers and other large aircraft. Designed by Nikolai Afanasev and Nikolai Makarov, the AM-23 replaced earlier models like the NR-23 by offering a much faster rate of fire while maintaining manageable recoil and improved reliability. It used a short recoil-operated mechanism with gas assistance, and it fired the same 23x115mm ammunition used in earlier Soviet aircraft cannons.

The AM-23 was produced in large numbers during the Cold War and was widely installed in Soviet strategic bombers such as the Tupolev Tu-16 and the Ilyushin Il-54, typically in remote-controlled defensive turrets. Its rate of fire, around 1,200-1,300 rounds per minute, was significantly higher than its predecessors, giving it an edge in defending against fast-moving enemy fighters. The AM-23 remained in production into the 1960s and continued to be used by various Soviet and Warsaw Pact aircraft for decades.

Known for its mechanical simplicity and robustness, the AM-23 gained notoriety for being one of the most effective tail guns of the early jet age. It remained in service with several air forces well into the 1980s, particularly in older bomber fleets that had not yet been replaced by newer designs. Though eventually phased out by more modern gun systems and missiles, the AM-23 stands as a key example of Soviet Cold War-era defensive armament and a testament to efficient gun design for high-speed aircraft engagement.