Russia receives new delivery of GSh-301 cannons

The Russian Aerospace Forces have taken delivery of a new batch of GSh-301 automatic guns supplied by the Kalashnikov group, a subsidiary of Rostec. The lightweight 30 mm piece, nicknamed the “ballerina,” can fire up to 1,800 rounds per minute and is slated for deployment across several front‑line aircraft.

Delivery and Platform Integration

Officials said the shipment will equip Su‑35, Su‑30, Su‑27 fighters as well as MiG‑29 variants and Su‑34 bombers. These models already carry the gun as a standard armament.

Technical Characteristics

Developed in the early 1980s at the Tula instrument design bureau, the gun weighs roughly 50 kg thanks to a short‑recoil mechanism that preserves muzzle energy while keeping the system compact. The modernized 9A‑4071K version used today incorporates liquid cooling to prevent overheating during sustained bursts.

Each projectile leaves the barrel at about 860 m/s. At ranges between 500 and 800 meters the round can pierce 40 mm of armor, and the weapon is rated for a service life of 2,000 shots. An electric trigger operated remotely allows the pilot to fire without manual lever action, and a dual‑sided belt feed supplies ammunition continuously.

A recent video released by the ministry shows a Su‑30SM engaging a Ukrainian FP‑1 drone, confirming the gun’s effectiveness against unmanned aerial targets. The footage illustrates the gun’s ability to track and neutralize small, agile objects at the edge of its 800‑meter aerial engagement envelope.

The ammunition mix includes armor‑piercing tracer rounds and high‑explosive incendiary projectiles. Tracers aid the pilot’s aim by leaving a visible streak, while the incendiary load is designed to ignite fuel or soft targets upon impact. Both types are loaded via an electro‑pyrotechnic system that speeds up the loading cycle.

To manage heat, the gun employs a liquid‑coolant circuit that circulates fluid through the barrel during firing. A built‑in ammo counter keeps the crew informed of remaining rounds, reducing the risk of surprise depletion in combat.

Production Schedule

Kalashnikov reports that it is accelerating annual output to meet government demand. The final batch of this series is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, ensuring a steady supply for the forces throughout the next few years.

According to the filing, no failures have been recorded in active combat zones, suggesting a high level of reliability for an armament that has been in service for four decades. The continued use of the 30 mm gun shows its entrenched role in Russia’s aerial combat doctrine.