30 mm caliber
30 mm caliber is a specific size of popular autocannon ammunition. Such ammunition includes NATO standard 30×113mmB, 30×173mm (STANAG 4624), and 35×228mm, Soviet 30×155mmB, 30×165mm, and 30×210mmB, Yugoslav 30×192mm, Anglo-Swiss 30×170mm, and Czechoslovak 30×210mm rounds which are widely used around the world.


Usage

30 mm ammunition is typically not used against personnel, but rather as an anti-materiel or armor-piercing round. Rounds of this size can be effective against lightly armored vehicles as well as fortified bunkers. 30 mm is also a popular calibre for shipboard close-in weapons systems, such as the Russian AK-630 and Dutch Goalkeeper CIWS.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation use their 30 mm weapons in a variety of vehicles, including the Su-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24 helicopter, Mi-28 attack helicopter, Ka-50 attack helicopter, and the BMP-2, BMP-3, and BTR-90 infantry fighting vehicles. The most modern anti-aircraft gun systems in use by Russia are 30 mm. The U.S. military uses 30 mm weapons in their A-10 Thunderbolt II and AH-64 Apache helicopter. It was going to be used in the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle until the project was cancelled.
Types of 30 mm ammunition
30 mm ammunition generally comes in three varieties: armor-piercing (AP), high-explosive (HE), and target practice (TP) rounds. Both AP and HE cartridges commonly possess incendiary or tracer characteristics.
Examples of weapons using 30 mm ammunition



Historical weapons
Weapon | Country of origin | Designer | Cartridge | Type | Example platforms |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MK 108 | ![]() |
Rheinmetall-Borsig | 30×90mmRB | Autocannon | Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6, Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-2, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8/R2, Messerschmitt Me 262 |
Type 2 | ![]() |
Dai-Nippon Weapons Co., Ltd. | 30×92mmRB | Blowback autocannon | Mitsubishi J2M (prototype) |
Ho-155 | ![]() |
Nagoya Arsenal | 30×114mm | Autocannon | Nakajima Ki-84-I Hei, Kawasaki Ki-102c Hei |
Type 5 | ![]() |
Nihon Tokushuko | 30×122mm | Autocannon | Yokosuka P1Y, Kyushu J7W, Mitsubishi J2M (planned) |
NR-30 | ![]() |
A.E. Nudelman and A.A. Rikhter | 30×155mmB | Autocannon | MiG-19, MiG-21, Sukhoi Su-7, Sukhoi Su-17 |
MK 101 | ![]() |
Rheinmetall-Borsig | 30×184mmB | Autocannon | Henschel Hs 129, Heinkel He 177A-1/U2 (experimental) |
MK 103 | ![]() |
Rheinmetall-Borsig | Electrically primed autocannon | Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz | |
MK 303 | ![]() |
Krieghoff | 30×210mm | Anti-aircraft autocannon | Type XXI submarine |
Current weapons
Cartridge | Weapon | Country of origin | Designer | Type | Example platforms |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30×29mmB | AGS-17 | ![]() |
OKB-16 | Automatic grenade launcher | BMD-3, BTR-90, BTR-D |
AGS-30 | ![]() |
KBP Instrument Design Bureau | Automatic grenade launcher | BTR-T, GAZ-2975 Tigr, M2020 (tank) | |
30×113mmB | M230 | ![]() |
Hughes | Chain gun | Boeing AH-64 Apache, Oshkosh M-ATV |
ADEN | ![]() |
Royal Small Arms Factory | Revolver cannon | English Electric Lightning, Hawker Hunter, Saab Draken, SEPECAT Jaguar | |
VENOM LR 30 | ![]() |
AEI Systems | Revolver cannon | Midgard 300 RWS, electro optic systems (EOS) R400 ROWS (prototype) | |
DEFA 550 series | ![]() |
Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armement | Revolver cannon | Dassault Mystere, Mirage series, Étendard series, SEPECAT Jaguar, Fiat G.91, AMX International AMX | |
30 M 781 | ![]() |
GIAT | Chain gun | Eurocopter Tiger | |
XM188 | ![]() |
General Electric | Rotary cannon | Bell AH-1 Cobra (prototype) | |
30×150mmB | 30 M 791 | ![]() |
Nexter | Revolver cannon | Dassault Rafale |
30×165mm | GSh-30-1 | ![]() |
Gryazev-Shipunov | Short-recoil autocannon | Sukhoi Su-27, Sukhoi Su-57, MiG-29 |
GSh-30-2 | ![]() |
Gryazev-Shipunov | Twin autocannon | Sukhoi Su-25, Mil Mi-24P | |
GSh-6-30 | ![]() |
Gryazev-Shipunov | Rotary cannon | MiG-27, Kortik CIWS | |
AK-630 | ![]() |
TsKIB SOO | Rotary cannon | A-213-Vympel-A CIWS | |
2A42/2A72 | ![]() |
KBP Instrument Design Bureau | Autocannon | BMP series, BMD series (BMD-1, BMD-2, BMD-3, BMD-4), BTR-80, Kurganets-25, T-15 Armata, Mil Mi-28, Kamov Ka-50, BTR-82A, BTR-90, BRM-3K, Uran-9 | |
2A38 | ![]() |
KBP Instrument Design Bureau | Twin anti-aircraft autocannon | 2K22 Tunguska, Pantsir-S | |
CRN 91 | ![]() |
Ordnance Factory Medak | Light naval gun | Trinkat-class patrol vessel, Kumbhir-class landing ship, Car Nicobar-class fast attack craft | |
Type 730/1130 | ![]() |
713th Research Institute | Gatling gun | Type 052C destroyer, Type 001A aircraft carrier, LD-2000 | |
30×170mm | HS 831A | ![]() |
Hispano Suiza | recoil-operated | AMX-30 DCA |
HS 831L / KCB | ![]() ![]() |
Hispano Suiza / Oerlikon | recoil-operated | Falcon anti-aircraft system, DS30B rapid-fire ship-protection system | |
L21A1 RARDEN | ![]() |
Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment/ Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield |
Long-recoil autocannon | FV721 Fox, FV107 Scimitar, FV510 Warrior | |
30×173mm (STANAG 4624) | KCA | ![]() |
Oerlikon | Revolver cannon | Saab 37 Viggen |
GAU-8 Avenger | ![]() |
General Electric | Gatling gun | Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, Signaal Goalkeeper CIWS | |
Mk44 Bushmaster II | ![]() |
Alliant Techsystems | Chain gun | KTO Rosomak, CV9030, M1296 Stryker Dragoon, Lockheed AC-130J, Hateruma-class patrol vessel | |
Mk30 | ![]() |
Rheinmetall | Automatic cannon | Boxer CRV, ASCOD, SPz Puma, 30 mm/82 Compact | |
EMAK 30 | ![]() |
Denel Land Systems | Linkless cam gun | Badger | |
Maadi Griffin | ![]() |
Robert Stewart | Prototype anti-materiel rifle | Maadi Griffin | |
Wotan 30 | ![]() |
Rheinmetall | Automatic cannon | Lynx | |
30×210mmB | NN-30 | ![]() |
Tulamashzavod | Twin revolver cannon | AK-230 light naval gun/CIWS |
30×210mm | vz.53/59 | ![]() |
Praga Hostivař | Twin anti-aircraft autocannon | M53/59 Praga |
30×250mm caseless | RMK30 | ![]() |
Mauser | Recoilless revolver cannon | Wiesel AWC (experimental), Eurocopter Tiger UH (experimental) |
35×228mm | 35/1000 | ![]() |
Oerlikon Contraves | Revolver gun | GDM-008 Millennium Gun CIWS, Oerlikon Skyshield/Skyranger |
35DPG | ![]() |
Denel Land Systems | Dual-purpose gun (CIWS/anti-boat defense) | Valour-class frigate | |
Bushmaster III | ![]() |
Alliant Techsystems | Automatic cannon | CV9035 | |
GDF-001 | ![]() |
Oerlikon Contraves | Anti-aircraft autocannon | Flakpanzer Gepard, Type 87 SPAAG, PZA Loara | |
Wotan 35 | ![]() |
Rheinmetall | Automatic cannon | Lynx |