Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23

Infobox Weapon|is_ranged=yes
name=Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23
origin=flagcountry|Soviet Union/flagcountry|Russian Federation
type=Autocannon
designer=Vassily P. Gryazev and Arkady G. Shipunov
manufacturer=KPB Instrument Design Bureau
cartridge=23×115mm AM-23
action=Gatling, Gas-operated
rate=10,000 rpm
velocity=715 m/s (2345 ft/s)
weight=73-76 kg (161-167 lb)
length=1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
height=180 cm (7 in)
barrels=6, Rifled

feed=Belt or linkless feed systemThe Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23 (Russian: Грязев-Шипунов ГШ-6-23), also known by its service designation, 9-A-768, is a powerful, fast-firing six-barreled 23 mm Gatling gun used by some modern Soviet/Russian military aircraft.

The GSh-6-23 differs from most American multi-barreled aircraft cannon in that it is gas-operated, rather than externally powered via an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic system. Although the engineering difficulties involved in producing a gas-operated rotary cannon with such a high rate of fire are considerable, they create less of a drain on the aircraft's power systems, and they accelerate to their maximum rate of fire much more quickly. There is less "spin-up" time for the barrels than with an externally powered rotary cannon, a significant advantage in aerial combat, where the window of opportunity to place multiple rounds on target can be vanishingly short.

The GSh-6-23 uses the 23x115 Russian AM-23 round, fed via linked cartridge belt or a linkless feed system. Fire control is electrical, using a 27v DC system. The cannon has 10 pyrotechnic cocking charges, similar to those used in European gas-operated revolver cannons such as the DEFA 554 or Mauser BK-27.

The GSh-6-23 has an extremely high rate of fire, with maximum cyclic rates of 9,000 to 10,000 rounds per minute. Compared to the U.S. M61 Vulcan, the GSh-6-23 fires 50-66% more rounds per minute, has a heavier projectile, but lower muzzle velocity. The rapid rate of fire exhausts ammunition quickly: the MiG-31(800 rounds maximum) aircraft, for example, with 260 rounds of ammunition, would empty its magazine in less than two seconds.The GSh-6-23 is used by the now-obsolete Sukhoi Su-15 'Flagon', the Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer' attack aircraft, the MiG-31 'Foxhound' interceptor aircraft, and others. It is also used in the SPPU-6 gun pod, which can traverse 45° downwards, to the left, and to the right.

References

"Rapid Fire", Anthony G. Williams, Airlife UK, August 2000

External links

* [http://www.kbptula.ru/eng/str/cannons/gsh6_23.htm KPB Tula (designer/manufacturer)]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050731093814/http://www.izhmash.udm.ru/arms/gsh-6-23.html Izhmash (Archive copy of manufacturer's page, in Russian)]
* [http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20050731093814%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.izhmash.udm.ru%2Farms%2Fgsh-6-23.html&langpair=ru%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8 Gsh-6-23M (9-A-768) (automatic translation of the above)]