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AK-630

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AK-630
TypeGatling machine gun
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
Used bySee Users
Production history
Designed1950s
ManufacturerTula arms
Specifications
Cartridge30 x 165 mm
Caliber30 mm

The AK-630 is a Soviet fully automatic naval six-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles and other precision guided weapons. However it can also be employed against fixed or rotary wing aircraft, ships and other small craft, coastal targets, and floating mines. The AK-630 was one of the first ever CIWS systems; when it was developed, there were no Phalanx, DARDO or Goalkeeper systems, however, the long development time of the AK-630 partially negated this advantage. Once made operational, this weapon system was rapidly adopted; up to 8 units installed in every new Soviet warship (from mine-hunters to aircraft carriers), with hundreds produced in total.

Description

The complete weapon system is called A-213-Vympel-A, which comprises the AK-630M Gun Mount, MR-123-02 Fire Control Radar System, and SP-521 Electrical-Optical Tracker. A single MP-123 radar system can simultaneously control two guns, either two 30 mm gun mounts, or two 57 mm gun mounts, or one 30 mm gun and one 57 mm gun. The radar system can engage aerial and surface targets at 4 km and 5 km respectively. The electro-optical system can detect MiG-21 sized aerial target 7 km away while torpedo boat sized surface targets can be detected at 70 km away. Features include surveillance and tracking modes, high jamming immunity, laser range finder and TV optical sight. It is in operation on almost all Russian Navy ships from fast attack boats to the Kirov Battlecruiser.

The gun mount is fully automated, however it can be remotely controlled by an operator from either the control console or via a remotely mounted gunsight. It has a higher firing rate than both the Goalkeeper and Phalanx (Block 1 and older) CIWS systems. Combined with the fact that they are often mounted in pairs, with as many as 4 pairs mounted on the larger ships, providing Russian ships with an effective point defence system. However like all Gatling gun-based CIWS they suffer from short engagement times and the need for multiple volleys to effectively eradicate a threat.

Comparison with Modern CIWS

Comparison of some modern CIWS
Russia AK-630[1] United States Phalanx CIWS [2] Netherlands Goalkeeper CIWS
Weight 9,114 kg (20,093 lb) 6,200 kg (13,700 lb) 9,902 kg (21,830 lb)
Armament 30 mm (1.2 in) 6 barreled GSh-6-30 Gatling Gun 20 mm (0.79 in) 6 barreled M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun 30 mm (1.2 in) 7 barreled GAU-8 Gatling Gun
Rate of Fire 5,000 rounds per minute 4,500 rounds per minute 4,200 rounds per minute
(effective/ flat-trajectory) Range 4,000 m (13,000 ft) 3,600 m (11,800 ft) 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
Ammunition stowage 2,000 rounds 1,550 rounds 1,190 rounds
Muzzle velocity 900 m (3,000 ft) per second 1,100 m (3,600 ft) per second 1,109 m (3,638 ft) per second
Elevation -12 to +88 degrees -25 to +85 degrees -25 to +85 degrees
Traverse 360 degrees -150 to +150 degrees 360 degrees

Development

The AK-630 CIWS is composed of several members and sometimes the CADS-N-1 Kashtan system and its derivative are also included.

AK-630

The design of the AK-630 CIWS was initiated in 1963, with the first operational prototype completed in 1964. Trials of the complete system, including radar and controls went on until 1976 when the system was accepted for service.

AK-630M

During the deployment of the system, numerous problems that did not appear in trials were exposed in its application, and some modification of the original AK-630 was made to correct these problems, and in 1979, the new system was named as AK-630M and was accepted into service.

AK-306

A derivatives of AK-630M was developed for light craft and this system was named as AK-306. Externally, the air-cooled AK-306 can be distinguished from the AK-630 by the absence of the water cooling system (a cylindrical jacket that surrounds the barrel cluster of the AK-630). Internally, the AK-306 (A-219) used electricity to power the automatics, instead of using the exhaust. This version also lacked radar control, being only optically guided, hence making it less of an anti-missile weapon and more of a surface-to-surface weapon, and the designation of the overall system is consequently changed from A-213-Vympel-A to A-219. The design started in 1974 and the system was accepted into service in 1980. When production completed in 1986, 125 systems entered service.

AK-630M1-2

In 1983, a decision was made to update the design and modify the AK-630 system to include a second gun mounted above the first. The AK-630M1-2 "Roy" was roughly the same size and weight allowing installation in existing AK-630 mounts. Though the system proved to be successful, the AK-630M1-2 Roy was not accepted for production due to the maturity of a combined missile and gun system, then designated the 3M87 Kortik, but later called Kashtan. The single example of AK-630M1-2 Roy remains installed on the Project 206.6 class missile boat # P-44.

In July 2007 at IMDS-2007, a modernized version of the AK-630M1-2 was showcased by OAO AK Tulamashzavod under the new name "Duet". Visually "Duet" differs from "Roy" in having a new mount with a stealthy low RCS design compared with the more traditional rounded AK-630 mounts.

Users

Specifications[3]

  • Gun: AO-18 six-barrel 30 mm Gatling gun.
  • Weight: (Empty / with ammunition and control system)
    • AK-630/630M: 1,850 kg (empty), 1,918 kg (with ammunition), 9,114 kg (with ammunition and control systems)
    • AK-630M1-2: 2,500 kg (empty), 11,819 kg (with ammunition and control systems)
    • AK-306: 1,100 kg (empty), 1, 630 kg (with ammunition and control systems)
  • Elevation: -12 to +88 degrees at 50 degree/s
  • Traverse: 360 degrees at 70 degree/s
  • Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (MPDS round).
  • Rate of fire: 83 round/s (5000 round/min).
  • Ammunition: Fixed (HE-FRAG, FRAG)
  • Ammunition stowage: A single below deck magazine
    • AK-630/630M: 2,000 rounds
    • AK-630M1-2: 4,000 rounds
    • AK-306: 500 rounds
  • Weapons range: Effective range with HE-FRAG (0.54 kg) shell, 4,000 m (4,375 yd)
  • Search and track systems: A-213-Vympel-A, includes radar, optical, and TV control systems

References

  1. ^ http://www.indian-military.org/navy/ordnance/close-in-weapon-system/267-ak-630-gatling-gun-close-in-weapon-system.html
  2. ^ http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=800&ct=2
  3. ^ AK-630 Close in weapon System at Indian-Military.org
Wikimedia Commons has media related to AK-630 CIWS.
  • AK-630 on Russian Slava Class Cruiser (with photos)
  • AK-630M1-2
  • AK-630
  • Tula AK-630
  • Twin-Mounted AK-630
  • Koll, Christian (2009). Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm. Austria: Koll. p. 289. ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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