Shipunov 2A42

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	Weapon: Shipunov 2A42 Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1980 Caliber: 30x165mm Action: Gas Operated Fully Automatic Overall Length (mm): 3027.0 Overall Length (in): 119.17 Weight (kg): 115.00 Weight (pounds): 253.53 Effective Range (km): 4 Effective Range (miles): 2.49

The Shipunov 2A42 is a 30 mm autocannon developed in the late 1970s by the Soviet Union's KBP Instrument Design Bureau, under the leadership of Arkady Shipunov. Intended to replace earlier 23 mm and 30 mm systems, the 2A42 was designed to deliver a high rate of fire and exceptional reliability in a variety of combat environments. It features a dual-feed mechanism, allowing the operator to quickly switch between armor-piercing and high-explosive ammunition types. Its gas-operated system and selectable firing rates-ranging from 200-300 rounds per minute on low rate to 550 rounds per minute on high-make it adaptable to both anti-armor and anti-personnel roles.

Production of the 2A42 began in 1980, and it has been manufactured in large quantities, with thousands produced to equip a wide variety of Soviet and later Russian armored fighting vehicles. Notably, it is the primary armament of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle, the BMD-2 airborne IFV, and the BTR-90 wheeled APC, as well as being fitted on certain helicopter gunships such as the Kamov Ka-50 and Mil Mi-28. Licensed production and local variants have also been made by several countries, contributing to its widespread presence in global arsenals.

The 2A42 has seen extensive combat use from the Soviet-Afghan War through modern conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Known for its ruggedness and effective balance between firepower and weight, it remains a respected weapon system among crews and adversaries alike. Its versatility-capable of engaging both ground and low-flying air targets-has cemented its status as one of the most successful autocannons of the late Cold War era, and it continues to serve in numerous armies worldwide over four decades after its introduction.