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GSh-6-23



The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23 is a powerful, fast-firing six-barreled 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. 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 has an extremely high rate of fire, with maximum cyclic rates of 9,000 to 10,000 rounds per minute. This is fully a third greater than the American M61 Vulcan, and the GSh-6-23 fires a substantially harder-hitting projectile, although its muzzle velocity is comparably reduced. A tactical limitation of the GSh-6-23's rate of fire is that maximum burst length is extremely limited. The MiG-31, for example, with only 260 rounds of ammunition, would exhaust its entire magazine in less than three seconds.


Source:
Aviation.ru

Accreditation:
Solo-Wing Dixie for the image

*Original Article by "Millie"*