AGS-30

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

AGS-30
AGS-30 at MAKS 2009
Type	Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	1995–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Second Chechen War 2008 South Ossetia war Syrian Civil War[1][2][3] Russo-Ukrainian War[4][5][6] Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Production history
Designer	KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Designed	1990
Manufacturer	ZID[7]
Produced	since 1995
Variants	AG-30M vehicle-mounted version
Specifications
Mass	16 kg unloaded
Length	1,165 mm
Cartridge	30×29mm grenade (ru)
Caliber	30 mm
Action	Blowback
Rate of fire	400 round/min
Muzzle velocity	185 m/s
Effective firing range	2,100 m (with GPD-30 round)[8]
Feed system	29 grenade belt
Sights	Adjustable telescopic sight, day-night sight, mechanical sight, portable radar

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, the AGS-30 weighs 30 kg loaded, meaning it can be carried by one person. Using a specially designed GPD-30 grenade,^[9] the AGS-30 can engage targets at 2100m.^[10] Recoil is lessened with a smoother grenade ejection mechanism. An adjustable SAG-30 tripod mount (GRAU index 6P17) is also included.

Development

After the success of the AGS-17 in Afghanistan, the KBP Instrument Design Bureau began work on a new grenade launcher. The Russian army needed a weapon that could easily flush militants out of their fortified building hideouts. The new design proved to be effective, and it was officially adopted in 2002,^[11] and was later adopted by the Russian Interior Ministry Troops.^[12]

Ammunition

The AGS-30 is fed from special belt drums that hold 29 linked rounds.^[13] The Loaded belt drum weighs about 14 kg. Spade grips are installed on a gun cradle integral to the tripod, instead of to the gun body. The AGS-30 can only fire in fully automatic. Standard sighting equipment is a 2.7X magnification PAG-17 optical sight.

AGS-30 uses standard VOG-17M, enhanced fragmentation VOG-30, VOG-30D^[14] and extended range GPD-30 grenades.^[15][10]

• VOG-17M (HE)
• IO-30 (HE)
• IO-30TP (Practice)
• VOG-30 (HE)
• VOG-30D (HE)
• VUS-30 (Smoke)
• GPD-30 (HE)

Variants

• AG-30M – Vehicle mounted version with electric trigger mechanism.

Users

Map with AGS-30 Atlant users in blue

•  Algeria^[16]
• India^[17]
• Namibia^[18]
•  North Macedonia^[19]
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia^[20]
•  Vietnam - SPL-30 unlicensed copy.^[21]

See also

• AGS-40 Balkan – (Russia)
• Daewoo Precision Industries K4 – (South Korea)
• Howa Type 96 – (Japan)
• Mk 19 grenade launcher – (United States)
• Mk 47 Striker – (United States)
• QLZ-87 grenade launcher – (China)
• List of Russian weaponry
• Comparison of automatic grenade launchers