GShG-7.62

ГШГ-7,62

Overview

GShG-7.62

7.62mm GShG-7.62 gas powered four-barrel minigun.
Source: Unknown author - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin

Soviet Union

Type

Minigun

Entered service

1970

Status

In service

Development

1968 - 1970

Developer

Soviet Union - KBP Instrument Design Bureau
E.B. Glagolev, A.G. Shipunov, V.P. Gryazev

Production

1970 - present

Producer

Soviet Union
Russia

Number produced

Several thousand (estimate)

Designations

ГШГ-7,62 (cyrillic)
GShG / Glagolev-Shipunov-Gryazev
9-A-622 (GRAU index)
TKB-621 (industry index)

Notable users

Soviet Union
Russia

Description

Introduction

The GShG-7.62 is a Cold War era minigun of Soviet origin. It is the less known smaller brother of the Yak-B. Even though the GShG-7.62 was reported to be reliable and possesses significant firepower, other helicopter weapons were deemed more effective against a wider range of targets. These include the 57mm S-5 aerial rocket and UPK-23 gun pod.

Design

The GShG-7.62 was developed at the same time as the larger caliber Yak-B and both weapons have many features in common. Unlike most Western minigun designs the GShG-7.62 is self-powered. It is a gas operated weapon with four barrels. Rate of fire is selectable, but perhaps only with physical access to the weapon during preparation. Ammunition is fed from a belt.

Firepower

The GShG-7.62 fires the 7.62x54mm Soviet round from a single continuous belt. Rate of fire is either 3.500 or 6.000 rpm. It is mostly used in the higher mode for maximum effect against targets with brief exposure.

Platforms

The GShG-7.62 is mainly used on in the GUV-8700 gun pod. This gun pod houses two GShG-7.62 on either side of a single 12.7mm Yak-B. The Kamov Ka-29TB naval assault helicopter is armed with a single GShG-7.62 minigun. While envisaged for use on the Mi-24 attack helicopter the designers settled on using only the 12.7mm Yak-B on the then new Mi-24D variant. Therefore used on the Mi-24 was only in conjunction with the GUV-8700 gun pod.