The GSh-30-1 is a single-barreled,
recoil operated autocannon weighing . Unlike many postwar cannons, it uses a short recoil action instead of a
revolver cannon or
Gatling gun mechanism. This results in a reduced
rate of fire, but lower weight and bulk. The GSh-30-1 has a rate of fire of 1,800 rounds per minute, customarily limited to 1,500 rounds per minute to reduce barrel wear. Despite that, its barrel life is quite short: 2,000 rounds, with a continuous burst rated for 150 rounds. The gun uses an evaporation cooling system to prevent the detonation of a high explosive round inside a heated barrel. This cooling system consists of a cylindrical water tank around the rear end of the barrel. The GSh-30-1 is equipped with a unique
pyrotechnic mechanism to clear
misfires: a small pyrotechnic cartridge is located to the left of the 30 mm cartridge chamber. This pyrotechnic cartridge fires a small steel bolt through the side wall of the 30mm cartridge. The hot propellant gases following the bolt into the dud 30 mm round ignite the powder charge of that round and firing continues. The gun's maximum effective range against aerial targets is and against surface or ground targets is . In combination with a
laser rangefinding and targeting system, it is reported to be extremely accurate as well as powerful, capable of destroying a target with as few as three to five rounds. It has been deployed on several different types of
fighter aircraft: •
Su-27,
Su-30,
Su-33,
Su-34,
Su-35 and
Su-37: 1 GSh-30-1 in starboard wing root (150 rounds of ammunition load) •
Su-57: 1 GSh-30-1 in right LEVCON root •
MiG-29: 1 GSh-30-1 in port wing root (150 rounds ammunition load) •
Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate •
Yak-141: 1 GSh-30-1 on the belly (120 rounds ammunition load) •
Shenyang J-11,
J-15,
J-16: 1 GSh-30-1 in starboard wing root (150 rounds ammunition load) •
HAL Tejas mark 2 : 1 GSh-30-1 • 9A4273
gun pod: 1 GSh-30-1 flexibly mounted, pod weight (150 rounds ammunition load)
Operational history During the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine confirmed that Colonel Ihor Bedzay, the deputy head of the Ukrainian Navy, was killed when his Mi-14 was shot down by a Russian Su-35. This cannon was used by a Russian Su-35 to try and shoot down the Mi-14Ps, however the helicopter appeared to have evaded the cannon fire. The Russian Su-35 then fired a missile at the MI-14, destroying the helicopter. ==Ammunition==