View source for Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30

{{more footnotes|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30
|image=GSh-6-30 Hu Szolnok 1.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption=
|origin= Soviet Union
|type=[[Rotary cannon]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          =  yes
| is_bladed          =
| is_explosive       = yes
| is_artillery       = yes
| is_vehicle         =
| is_missile         = Yes
| is_UK              =
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1975–present
|used_by=
|wars=
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=[[KBP Instrument Design Bureau|KBP]]
|design_date=
|manufacturer=KBP
|unit_cost=
|production_date=
|number=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight=149 kg (328 [[Pound (mass)|lb]])<br />Projectile: 390 g (13¾ oz)
|length={{convert|2040|mm|ft}}
|part_length=
|width=
|height=
|diameter=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=[[30 mm caliber|30×165mm]]
|caliber=30 mm (1.18 in)
|barrels=6
|action=[[Gas-operated reloading|Gas actuated]], electrically fired
|rate=4,000–6,000 rounds/min<ref name="urlKBP Instrument Design Bureau - GSh-6-30">{{cite web |url=http://www.kbptula.ru/en/productions/small-arms-guns-grenade-launchers/guns-machine-guns/gsh-6-30 |title=KBP Instrument Design Bureau - GSh-6-30 |access-date=2019-04-07 |archive-date=2021-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110212841/http://www.kbptula.ru/en/productions/small-arms-guns-grenade-launchers/guns-machine-guns/gsh-6-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|velocity=845 m/s (2,770 ft/s){{Citation needed|date=February 2015}}
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
|filling=
|filling_weight=
|detonation= 
|yield=
}}
The '''Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30''' ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Грязев-Шипунов ГШ-6-30)<ref name="urlBorn in the USSR: Russias most vicious Soviet mini-artillery guns - Russia Beyond">{{cite web |url=https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/327794-russian-most-vicious-mini-artillery-guns |title=Born in the USSR: Russia's most vicious Soviet mini-artillery guns - Russia Beyond |date=13 March 2018 }}</ref> is a Russian 30&nbsp;mm [[rotary cannon]] aircraft-mounted and naval [[autocannon]] used by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and later [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] [[military aircraft]]. The GSh-6-30 fires a [[30 mm caliber|30×165mm]], {{convert|390|g|oz|frac=4|abbr=on}} projectile.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://atomictoasters.com/2012/02/the-gryazev-shipunov-gsh-6-30-a-destructive-force/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216081821/http://atomictoasters.com/2012/02/the-gryazev-shipunov-gsh-6-30-a-destructive-force/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 16, 2012|title=The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30: A Destructive Force}}</ref>

==Description==
The GSh-6-30, designed in the early 1970s and entering service in [[1975 in aviation|1975]], has a [[gun barrel|six barrel]] design that is similar to the [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23]]. It was based on the naval AO-18 used in the [[AK-630]] system. Unlike most modern rotary cannons, it is gas-operated rather than hydraulically driven, allowing it to "spin up" to maximum rate of fire more quickly, allowing more rounds to be placed on target in a short-duration burst. This makes the weapon advantageous in dogfights, where pilots often have a very small window for engaging the enemy. Ignition is electrical, as with the smaller GSh-6-23.

On the [[Mikoyan MiG-27|MiG-27 "Flogger"]] the GSh-6-30 had to be mounted obliquely to absorb [[recoil]]. The gun was noted for its high (often uncomfortable) vibration and extreme noise. The airframe vibration led to fatigue cracks in fuel tanks, numerous radio and avionics failures, the necessity of using runways with floodlights for night flights (as the landing lights would often be destroyed), tearing or jamming of the forward landing gear doors (leading to at least three crash landings), cracking of the [[Reflector sight|reflector gunsight]], an accidental jettisoning of the cockpit canopy and at least one case of the instrument panel falling off in flight. The weapons also dealt extensive collateral damage, as the sheer numbers of fragments from detonating shells was sufficient to damage aircraft flying within a 200-meter radius from the impact center, including the aircraft firing.<ref name="urlGame of Knowns: Science is Coming - Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - Google Books">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eeWHUGG3UO4C&q=MiG-27K+gsh-30-6&pg=PA169 |title=Game of Knowns: Science is Coming - Dr Karl Kruszelnicki - Google Books |isbn=9781743514375 |last1=Kruszelnicki |first1=Dr Karl |date=November 2013 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers Aus. }}</ref>

The principal application for the GSh-6-30 is the [[MiG-27]], which carries the weapon in a gondola under the [[fuselage]], primarily for strafing and ground attack. It was fitted to some [[Sukhoi Su-25|Su-25TM]] aircraft, but subsequently replaced with the [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2|GSh-30-2]] twin-barreled [[autocannon]] of the original Su-25. It is also used as the gun component of the [[Kashtan CIWS|CADS-N-1 Kashtan]] [[close-in weapon system]].

== History ==
While the GSh-6-30K was designed for use on aircraft, the gun was repurposed for use on armoured cars during the [[Yemeni civil war (2014–present)|Yemeni Civil War]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 June 2025 |title=New Russian Weapon Hybrid: AK-630 Naval Gun on a KamAZ Truck |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/new_russian_weapon_hybrid_ak_630_naval_gun_on_a_kamaz_truck-13650.html |access-date=26 February 2025 |website=[[Defense Express]]}}</ref>

==Variants==
*GSh-6-30M; 
*AO-18L; version used by ABM-BCM30 remote weapon station.
*GSh-6-30K; Naval variant of GSh-6-30, also known as AO-18 used in [[AK-630]] CIWS system.<ref name="urlBorn in the USSR: Russias most vicious Soviet mini-artillery guns - Russia Beyond"/>
*AO-18K; Modernized AO-18 used by [[Kashtan CIWS]].
*AO-18KD; Further improved AO-18K with a higher rate of fire and extended range used in [[AK-630]]M2, [[Palma/Palash]] and [[Pantsir-M]] CIWS systems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-13 |title=Navy Recognition - Kashtan, Kashtan-M, CADS-N-1, Palma, Palash close in weapon system (CIWS) |url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/east-european-navies-vessels-ships-equipment/russian-navy-vessels-ships-equipment/weapons-a-systems/123-kashtan-kashtan-m-kashtan-lr-cads-n-1-close-in-weapon-system-ciws-.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713000952/https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/east-european-navies-vessels-ships-equipment/russian-navy-vessels-ships-equipment/weapons-a-systems/123-kashtan-kashtan-m-kashtan-lr-cads-n-1-close-in-weapon-system-ciws-.html |archive-date=2022-07-13  |access-date=2022-07-13 }}</ref>

==Users==
*{{flag|China}}
*{{flag|India}}
*{{flag|Russian Federation}}
*{{flag|Ukraine}}
*{{Flag|Vietnam}}
*[[Yemen]]
===Former user===
*{{flag|Soviet Union}}

==See also==
* [[GAU-8 Avenger]]
* [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1]]
* [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2]]
* [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23]]
* [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23]]
* [[Yakushev-Borzov YakB-12.7mm machine gun]]
* [[Glagolev-Shipunov-Gryazev GShG-7.62]]
* [[Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30]]
* [[Rikhter R-23]]
* [[Shipunov 2A42]]
* [[List of Russian weaponry]]
* [[List of multiple-barrel firearms]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===General references===
*{{cite book
  | last = Koll
  | first = Christian
  | title = Soviet Cannon: A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm
  | publisher = Koll
  | year = 2009
  | location = Austria
  | url = http://www.russianammo.org
  | isbn = 978-3-200-01445-9
  | page = 305  }}

==External links==
{{commons category|GSh-6-30}}
* [http://www.russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_30mm.html#14 Russian Ammo Page - with more detail]

{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}
{{Modern Gatling Guns}}
[[Category:30 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Multi-barrel machine guns]]
[[Category:Rotary cannon]]
[[Category:KBP Instrument Design Bureau products]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]