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GSh-23



The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 is a twin-barreled 23mm autocannon developed by the Soviet Union, primarily for military aircraft use. It is a twin-barreled weapon in which the firing action of one barrel operates the mechanism of the other. It provides a much faster rate of fire for lower mechanical wear than a single-barrel weapon, although it cannot match the rate of fire of an electric Gatling gun like the M61 Vulcan.

The cannon comes in a basic variant GSh-23, and more popular GSh-23L (ГШ-23Л), differing mostly in adding a muzzle brake, lowering recoil force. This cannon was standard fit on late-model MiG-21 fighters (M, MF, SMT, bis), all variants of the MiG-23, the SOKO J-22 Orao and IAR 93, and the tail turrets of the Tupolev Tu-22M 'Backfire' bomber and some late-model Tu-95s. In that application, it had the unusual ability to fire infrared flares and chaff rounds, allowing it to function as both a weapon and a dispenser of anti-missile countermeasures. It is also mounted on late small series Mi-24VP helicopter (in NPPU-23 movable mounting) and Polish W-3WA Sokół helicopter in fixed mounting.

Some MiG-21 models of 2nd generation (PF, PFM) could carry the GSh-23L in an under fuselage gondola designated the GP-9, carrying the cannon and 200 rounds of ammunition; this was replaced by a more streamlined semi-conformal installation in later variants. There are also several gun pods available for mounting on external hard points: UPK-23 for air-to-air use, with one or two fixed GSh-23 guns and 200-400 rounds of ammunition, and SPPU-22 pods with traversal barrels for strafing, from 0° to -30° (they were most often carried by Su-17/-20/-22).

Source:
Zid.ru

*Original Article by "Millie"*