AGS-30

The AGS-30 is a Russian-designed automatic grenade launcher currently in production in the Russian Federation and in service with the Russian armed forces.

Description

Designed on the basis of AGS-17, the AGS-30 provides better mobility, longer range and better accuracy during firing. Significantly lighter than its previous version but far more advanced and powerful, the AGS-30 weighs 30 kg loaded, meaning it can be carried by one person. Using a specially designed GPD-30 grenade, recently put into serial production,^[2] the AGS-30 can engage targets at over 2000m. Recoil is lessened with a much smoother grenade ejection mechanism. An adjustable SAG-30 tripod mount (GRAU index 6P17) is also included.

Development

After the dissolution of the USSR, Russia found itself in a difficult position in the First Chechen war. After the success of AGS-17 in Afghanistan, the KBP Instrument Design Bureau immediately began work on the new grenade launcher. The Russian army needed a weapon that could easily flush out militants out of their fortified building hideouts and level them in seconds. The new design proved to be reliable and lethal. Another improvement to the weapon is its ability to stay undetectable by the enemy - reduced sound when firing, reduced flash and the lightning speed of the grenade make the AGS-30 very hard to detect. It can be operated from almost everywhere - from attaching it to a window, to mud and grassy surfaces. Officially adopted in 2002.^[3] Adopted by the Russian Interior Ministry Troops.^[4]

Ammunition

AGS-30 is fed from special belt drums that hold 30 linked rounds. Loaded belt drum weights about 14 kg. Interestingly, spade grips are installed on the gun cradle integral to tripod, instead of the gun body; trigger is located at the right spade grip making firing more controlled and comfortable. The AGS-30 can fire in only full automatic modes. Standard sighting equipment is 2.7X magnification PAG-17 optical sight.

Users

•  Azerbaijan
•  India^[5]
•  Russia

See also

The AGS-30 and 6P41 "Pecheneg" general purpose machine gun mounted on a GAZ-2975 "Tigr"

• AGS-17, the predecessor to the AGS-30
• Vektor Y3 AGL
• SB LAG 40
• HK GMG, similar weapon
• XM174 grenade launcher, similar weapon
• Milkor MGL, another South African 40 mm grenade launcher
• Mk 19 grenade launcher, similar weapon
• List of Russian weaponry
• Comparison of automatic grenade launchers

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AGS-30.

External video

Video about AGS-30

• "AGS-30 Automatic Grenade Launcher System". 
• "AGS-30 grenade launcher / machine gun (Russia)".