AGS-30

September 11, 2008

The AGS-30 more light mounted grenade launcher (grenade launcher complex) was developed at the Tula-base KB Instrument Design Bureau chambered either for the same rounds VOG-17 and VOG-17M or the new one, VOG-30. The ballistics of the grenade launcher remained intact. The grenade launcher is a blowback operated weapon, the weight of the bolt is increased at the expense of the round and the sear. The shot fired from the “counter-rcoil thrust” and a long travel of the bolt make the operation of the weapon’s moving parts more smooth and enhance the accuracy of fire. The firing mechanism permits only automatic mode of fire. The hammer is cocked by a rock¬ing lever. The AGS-30 unlike the AGS-17 does not have any hydraulic mechanisms. The belt is loaded with 30 rounds.
The main optical sight PAG-17 is retained, it is added by an iron sight.
The control levers are shifted to a light tri¬pod mount that allows tiring from sitting, prone and kneeing positions in a large horizontal sec¬tor at angles of elevation equal up to 70 deg. The AGS-30 may be carried in a rucksack sep¬arately from the tripod mount or with a folded mount. The crew is reduced from three to two crewmen. The AG-30 can be mounted on other types of mounts without its preliminary updating. There is a variant of the grenade launcher intended for infantry combat vehicles.
The round VOG-17 weighing 350 g compris¬es a grenade weighing 280 g, the VOG-17M round weighing 348 g with grenades 275 g and an explosive charge weighing 43 g, it is provid¬ed with a fuze and a selt-destructor that results in an effective area of the killing zone equal to 70 square meters. The new VOG-30 round with an explosive charge weighing 47 g with similar size and weight results in a more larger killing zone. The Design Bureau had developed the GPD-30 round of its own in an effort to enhance the aerodynamics and splinter effect of a grenade, increase the range and accuracy.

Specifications
Caliber …………………………30mm
Cartridge ………….VOG-17M.VOG-30.GPD-30
Weapon weight w/mount,
w/o round box and sight…………….16.5 kg
Complex dimensions…………490×735x1,165 mm
Length of grenade launcher “body-………. 837 mm
Muzzle velocity of a grenade …….at least 183 m/sec
Rate of fire……………………400 ids/min
Max. range of fire with:
VOG-17M,VOG-30……………upto 1,730 m
GPD-30…………………..up 10 2,100 m
Cartridge belt capacity………………..30 rds