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: 09 October 2018

AGS-30 30mm automatic grenade launcher

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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Pictures - Video

Description

The AGS-30 is a Russian-made 30mm caliber automatic grenade launcher designed to engage enemy manpower and soft-skin vehicles located in the open, in trenches, behind natural terrain features, and on reverse slopes with fragmentation grenades. It is a lightweight small-size maneuverable efficient weapon. Its small dimensions ensure concealment and quick changes of the firing position, and also firing out of windows. A considerable field of fire allows the launcher to engage fleeting targets. For the first time, the weapon's design has made it easily transportable by one man together with the mount. The AGS-30 replaces the old Soviet-made AGS-17 which has 40 per cent fewer components, is that the AGS-30 is much lighter while retaining a range and rate of fire similar to those of the earlier weapon. The AGS-30 automatic grenade launcher system has successfully passed all the tests to comply with stringent Russian standards. It is currently series-produced and exported.

Variants

- No variants

Technical Data

Design

The AGS-30 30mm automatic grenade launcher includes the grenade launcher weapon, a tripod mount, an ammunition box with 30mm rounds loaded into a metal belt and one optical sight. The AGS-30 grenade launcher is placed on a light tripod mount weighing no more than 6 kg, which ensures the weapon's stability on any surface (sand, day, snow, asphalt, etc.) and allows firing from deployed positions. The mount is provided with a traverse and an elevation mechanism. The front and rear legs are adjustable to provide for changing the height of the bore line depending on the terrain and firing position (prone, sitting, and kneeling). The system's light weight has made it possible to reduce its crew to two men, thereby minimizing one of the giveaway factors.

Sight

The AGS-30 is fitted with the 2.7x magnification PAG-17 optical sight. PAG-17 sight is intended for direct and indirect laying of automatic grenade launcher SPG-9V (6G8). The sight is equipped with mechanism of laying for direction and elevation. There are cross and longitudinal levels. For dark time operation, the illumination of aiming reticule and laying scales is provided. Reticule consists of elevation and deflection scales.

The AGS-30 is fitted with the 2.7x magnification PAG-17 optical sight.

Ammunitions

The AGS-30 fires 30 mm VOG-17M, VOG-30, and GPD-30 fragmentation grenades. Ammunition feed is from a 29-round metal bell stored in an ammunition box attached to the right side of the receiver (ammunition belts and boxes are totally standardized with those of the AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher).
The VOG-17M, also known as the 7P9M is an HE-FRAG (High Explosive - Fragmentation) grenade with a nose-mounted VMG-K point detonating impact fuse incorporating a self-destruct mechanism functioning 14 to 19 seconds after firing. The fuse is armed after a distance of 10 to 40 m from the launcher muzzle and is claimed to function even when impacting upon soft surfaces such as snow, swamp and water. Fragmentation is augmented by a number of small steel spheres packed around the main explosive payload of 34 gof RDX/Wax 94/6, producing a casualty radius of 6 to 7 m. The rimless steel cartridge case employed for the VOG-17M is 28.2 mm long. Muzzle velocity is 185 m/s and maximum range 1,730 m.
The new VOG-30 HE-FRAG shell have a lethal radius of 6m and develops a maximum chamber pressure of 1250kg/cm², the fuse arms between 10 and 60m and self-destructs after 27seconds.
The GPD-30 fragmentation round was developed for the AGS-30 by KBP Instrument Design Bureau and extends the firing range to 2,100 m.

Combat use

The weapon is controlled by two horizontal handles located in the rear of the receiver and is cocked by several motions of the lever located on the right side of the grenade launcher. The weapon is laid on a target with the aid of a x2.7 optical sight. Provision is also made for an auxiliary iron sight. The weapon fires 30mm rounds provided with highly sensitive fuses and self-destructors that operate 30 seconds after firing. The rounds are loaded into a metal belt, 30 pieces each, and stowed in ammunition boxes. With a fire unit of 120 rounds, the full load on each crewmember is 36 to 38 kg. The trigger mechanism allows automatic fire.