This year, the Russian Army will likely approve a plan to put into service the AGS-40 grenade launcher to completely replace the legendary AGS-17.
 |
| According to the Russian news agency tvzvezda, it is likely that this year the Russian Army will approve a plan to put into service the AGS-40 "Balkan" grenade launcher. It will gradually replace its predecessor, the AGS-17, which has been in service since 1970. Photo source: mareeva-irina. |
 |
| Although both were developed in the early 1990s, the AGS-30 was put into service first, while the AGS-40 had to wait until 2008 to be put into trial production, and it was not until this year that the Russian Army planned to put this grenade launcher into service. Photo source: mareeva-irina. |
 |
| One of the main reasons why the AGS-40 grenade launcher was difficult to accept was that it used 40mm ammunition instead of 30mm like the AGS-30 or AGS-17, besides, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the NPO "Pribor" design bureau that manufactured the AGS-40 almost did not have enough resources to continue perfecting this automatic grenade launcher model. Photo source: mareeva-irina. |
 |
| According to the General Director of NPO "Pribor" Yury Nabokov, the Russian Army's plan to put into service the AGS-40 is considered a necessary step to improve the firepower of Russian infantry units while the previous AGS grenade launcher models are gradually becoming obsolete. Photo source: Alexey Ivanov. |
 |
| Not only improving accuracy or increasing firing range, the firepower of the AGS-40 is also considered to be much superior to the AGS-30. This is thanks to the 40mm 7P39 ammunition model developed by NPO "Pribor" specifically for the AGS-40, making it more suitable in the modern warfare environment. Photo source: Alexey Ivanov. |
 |
| The combat weight of the AGS-40 is 32 kg and no more than 16 kg when the magazine is removed, the barrel wheelbase is 400 mm. It is equipped with a 20-round magazine with a crew of 1-2 soldiers. Photo source: mareeva-irina. |
 |
| The AGS-40's firing rate is up to 400 rounds/minute with a muzzle velocity of 240m/s. NPO "Pribor" promises that this grenade launcher has a life cycle of no less than 4,000 shots and it can operate in the harshest combat conditions. Photo source: mareeva-irina. |
 |
| The maximum firing range of the AGS-40 is 2,500m, much higher than some Western grenade launchers from 300-500m, but it also has a disadvantage when it is only equipped with the PAG-17 optical sight, which is quite outdated and has been used on the AGS-17 until now. Photo source: defendingrussia.ru. |
 |
| Like its predecessor, the AGS-40 can also be deployed on various motor vehicle platforms, including helicopters. Its main targets remain infantry, fortifications, and enemy motor vehicles. Pictured is the prototype of the AGS-40's 40mm 7P39 ammunition, also developed by NPO "Pribor". Photo source: nevskii-bastion. |
According to Kienthuc.net
