View source for Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30

{{Infobox Weapon
|name= NR-30
|image= [[Image:30-мм авиационная пушка НР-30.jpg|300px]]
|caption= The Nudelman-Richter NR-30.
|origin= {{Flagcountry|Soviet Union}}
|type= Single-barrel [[Autocannon]]
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|is_ranged= yes
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|used_by={{flagicon|USSR}} [[Soviet Union]],{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Russia]], {{flagicon|PRC}} [[China]] 
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|variants=[[Norinco]] Type 30
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|weight= 66 kg (146 lb)
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|cartridge= 
|caliber= 30 mm (1.18 in)
|barrels= 
|action= Short recoil
|rate= 850&ndash;1,000 rpm
|velocity= 780 m/s (2,560 ft/s)
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The '''Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30''' was a [[Soviet]] [[cannon]] widely used in [[military aircraft]] of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Warsaw Pact]]. It was designed by [[A.E. Nudelman]] and [[A.A. Rikhter]], entering service in [[1954 in aviation|1954]].

The NR-30 was a single-barrel, short recoil operated cannon, essentially an enlarged version of the 23 mm [[Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23|NR-23]] weapon introduced in [[1949]]. It fired a massive  projectile (more than twice the weight of the NR-23's 23 mm shell), requiring a [[muzzle brake]] with an integrated flame damper to prevent airframe damage from its firing. Before this gun, the Soviet standard fighter armament was two 23 mm and one 37 mm gun, that were ballistically quite different. The 23 mm was quite powerful, but with a relatively low initial velocity, while the 37 mm was lacking in rate of fire and ammunition reserve. 

A [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] typically had 80 cartridges for each 23 mm gun and 40 for the single 37 mm [[Nudelman N-37|NR-37]]. The 30 mm gun was needed to make a weapon capable of combining the destructive power and the ballistic qualities of the 37 mm and the rate of fire typical of the 23 mm NR-23. 

It had a velocity of around 800 m/s, a projectile weighing 400 [[gram]]s (twice that of the 23 mm and half that of 37 mm guns), a rate of fire of 900 cycles per minute, even greater than NR-23, and a typical load of 70 shells for each gun. Generally it was fitted into the wings rather than in the nose. There were several types of ammunition, no less than 20 models. The most used were [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|AP]] and [[High-explosive incendiary|HEI]], the latter of 40–48 g HE internal charge (several times larger than 20 mm ammunition). 

It was clear that this gun was meant to fire heavy projectiles, as [[DEFA cannon|DEFA guns]] (firing the far less powerful 30x113 ammunition) had projectiles weighing around 270 g, with similar velocity, but a better rate of fire (1200-1300 rounds per minute), more versed in air-to air engagements. DEFAs had typically 120-140 cartridges each. The NR-30 was also remarkably light, with more firepower (comparing rate of fire and projectile's weight) despite being one-third lighter. Only the [[Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1|GSh-301]] is lighter among all the 30 mm guns. One unusual ammunition was the [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|Chaff dispenser PRL]], with 48,000 chaff particles internally, however it is unknown how it was used practically.

[[File:Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30.JPG|thumb|250px|A close up at the NR-30 cannon and its bullets displayed at the [[Military museum of Egypt]].]]

The NR-30 was used mainly in the [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19|MiG-19]] (before this model, MiGs had 23 and 37 mm mixed armament), early [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] models, the [[Sukhoi Su-7]], and the [[Sukhoi Su-17]]. It was also used on the [[Shenyang J-6]], the [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] copy of the MiG-19, with a third gun in the nose. The Chinese manufactured their own version, the '''Type-30''', which has slightly different characteristics, but is basically similar in operation.

Although its rate of fire makes it more suited for air-to-ground use, it is, by all accounts, a formidable weapon combining reasonable accuracy and devastating hitting power. It also appears a version of the gun was modified for use in space, with successful testing on a military ''[[Almaz]]'' station.

==Ammunition specifications==
* '''Caliber''': 30x155mm (belted) with a brass case
* '''Projectile weight''': 410 grams (14½ oz), 840 g (1 lb 13½ oz) complete
* '''Launch charge''': 95 g to 99 g of 6/7fl VBP smokeless powder
* '''Types of ammunition''': HEI, AP, TP, Chaff dispensers

==External links==
* [http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/modern_fighter_gun_effectiveness.htm Article about modern aircraft guns in Tony Williams Website]
* [http://www.russianammo.org/30mm.html Ammunition page dedicated to russian guns, with data and photos]

==References==
*{{cite book
  | last = Koll
  | first = Christian
  | authorlink = 
  | coauthors = 
  | title = Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm
  | publisher = Koll
  | date = 2009
  | location = Austria
  | url = http://www.russianammo.org
  | doi = 
  | id = ISBN 978-3-200-01445-9
  | page = 251  }}

{{Aviation lists}}

[[Category:30 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Automatic cannons]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Aircraft guns of the Soviet Union/CIS]]

[[Category:2Fix]]