View source for Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30

{{Infobox weapon
|name= NR-30
|image= 30-мм авиационная пушка НР-30.jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption= The Nudelman-Richter NR-30.
|origin= [[Soviet Union]]
|type= Single-barrel [[Autocannon]]
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|is_ranged= yes
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|service=
|used_by= [[Soviet Union]], Russia, China
|wars=
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|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
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|number=
|variants=[[Norinco]] Type 30
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|spec_label=
|weight= 66 kg (146 lb)
|length={{convert|2153|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|part_length={{convert|1600|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|width={{convert|181|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
|height={{convert|186|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|diameter=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge= [[30x155mm]]
|caliber= 30 mm (1.18 in)
|barrels= 1
|action= Short recoil
|rate= 850&ndash;1,000 rpm
|velocity= 780 m/s (2,560 ft/s)
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=
|sights=
}}
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The '''Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30''' was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[autocannon]] widely used in [[military aircraft]] of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Warsaw Pact]]. It was designed by [[Alexander Nudelman|A.E. Nudelman]] and A. A. Rikhter, entering service in [[1954 in aviation|1954]].

==Description==
Prior to the introduction of the NR-30, most Soviet autocannon were of 23 or 37&nbsp;mm calibre and often used in combination. For instance, the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15]] was equipped with two [[Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23|NR-23]]'s and a single [[Nudelman N-37|N-37]]. The two were mismatched; the NR-23 was a rapid-fire weapon with relatively low explosive power, while the N-37 was extremely powerful, typically able to destroy a bomber with a single hit, but with a very low firing rate which made it unsuited to firing at manoeuvring targets like fighters. Moreover, the two had very different ballistics which meant that long-range fire would result in only one or the other set of guns being properly aimed.

The NR-30 was an attempt to solve this problem by introducing a single weapon that could serve in both roles. It was essentially an enlarged version of the NR-23 using the same [[short recoil]] mechanism firing a new 400 [[gram]] 30&nbsp;mm round that was roughly twice the mass of the earlier NR-23 and slightly less than half that of the N-37. While not capable of destroying a bomber in a single hit, it made up for this by improving the firing rate to 900 cycles per minute, beyond that of the NR-23. [[Muzzle velocity]] increased to 800&nbsp;m/s, besting both the NR-23 and N-37.

Its total firepower, the product of per-round energy and firing rate, was better than either of the earlier weapons. This demanded the use of a [[muzzle brake]] with an integrated flame damper to prevent airframe damage from its firing. In fighters, wing mountings were more common than the nose mounts of the earlier designs. This often required small sections of [[stainless steel]] to be fitted to the wing skinning to protect it.

Aircraft typically carried a load of 70 shells for each gun. There were 20 different types of ammunition available; the most used were [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|AP]] and [[High-explosive incendiary|HEI]], the latter of 40–48 g HE internal charge, several times larger than 20&nbsp;mm ammunition. An unusual munition was the [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|Chaff dispenser PRL]], with 48,000 chaff particles internally; it is not known how it was used.

The NR-30 was also remarkably light, about one-third lighter than the N-37 while offering higher firepower. The [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1|GSh-301]] is the only lighter 30&nbsp;mm gun.

[[File:Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30.JPG|thumb|250px|A close up at the NR-30 cannon and its cartridges displayed at the [[Egyptian Military museum]].]]
[[File:Cropped NR-30.jpg|right|thumb|A NR-30 on display at the [[National Museum of the US Air Force]] (incorrectly labelled as a NS-23)]]

The NR-30 was used mainly in the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19|MiG-19]], early [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] models, the [[Sukhoi Su-7]], and the [[Sukhoi Su-17]]. It was also used on the [[Shenyang J-6]], the [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] copy of the MiG-19, with a third gun in the nose. The Chinese manufactured their own version, the '''Type-30''', basically similar though with slightly different characteristics.

==Ammunition specifications==
*'''Caliber''': 30×155mm (belted) with a brass case
*'''Projectile weight''': 410&nbsp;grams (14½ oz), 840 g (1&nbsp;lb 13½ oz) complete
*'''Launch charge''': 95 g to 99 g of 6/7fl VBP smokeless powder
*'''Types of ammunition''': HEI, AP, TP, Chaff dispensers

==Users==
*{{flag|Soviet Union}}
*{{flag|Russian Federation}}
*{{flag|China}}
*{{flag|Albania}} - Used in the J-6C aircraft from 1962 until 2005.
*{{flag|Pakistan}} - Used in the [[Shenyang J-6|Shenyang F-6C]] from 1965 until 2002.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Suchoi Su-22-gun.jpg|stainless steel cladding at the muzzle of NR30
File:NR30-mounting.jpg|mounting of a NR-30 inside [[Su-22]]
File:NR30-details.jpg|Cooling air inlet and cartridge outlet of NR30 on an Su-22
</gallery>

==References==
*{{cite book
|last = Koll
|first = Christian
|author-link = 
|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
|doi = 
|isbn = 978-3-200-01445-9
|page = 251
|access-date = 2009-10-24
|archive-date = 2009-10-19
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091019161335/http://www.russianammo.org/
|url-status = dead
}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110709214822/http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/modern_fighter_gun_effectiveness.htm Article about modern aircraft guns in Tony Williams Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091022233649/http://www.russianammo.org/30mm.html Ammunition page dedicated to russian guns, with data and photos]

{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}

[[Category:30 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Autocannons of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s]]