AGS-40 Balkan

AGS‑40 Balkan is a Russian 40 mm caseless automatic grenade launcher and successor to AGS-17 and AGS-30, introduced and adopted by the Russian military.^[1][2][3]

AGS-40 Balkan
AGS-40 Balkan
Type	Automatic grenade launcher
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	2017–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	TsKIB SOO GNPP "Pribor"
Designed	1980–2017
Manufacturer	Tecmash Research and Production Association
Produced	2017–present
Specifications
Mass	32 kilograms (71 lb) unloaded on tripod 46 kilograms (101 lb) on tripod loaded with drum of 20 rounds
Cartridge	Caseless 40 mm grenade
Action	Gas Piston, Open Bolt
Rate of fire	400 rpm
Maximum firing range	2,500 m (2,700 yd)
Feed system	20 grenade disintegrating belt in drum
Sights	PAG-17, iron sights

Close-up view of Russian AGS-40 grenade launcher

Design

The AGS-40 uses 40 mm CL (caseless) grenades with a range of 2,500 m (compared to the 30 mm grenades with range 1,700 for AGS-17 and 2,100 for AGS-30) and a rate of fire of 400 rounds per minute, with short burst (5 rounds), long burst (10 rounds), and continuous fire modes. The weapon is usually equipped with a tripod and a PAG-17 2.7× telescopic sight; it can also have back-up iron sights installed.^[4]

A unique feature of the AGS-40 is a detachable seat that allows for more stable shooting using the weight of an operator.^[5]

Ammunition

• Caseless high-explosive-fragmentation 40 mm 7P39 grenades.^[6]
• 7P39P and 7P39U practice rounds

Development

Development of the AGS-40 started in 1980 but stalled after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the subsequent economic decline in Russia. However, the project was revived in the early 1990s under the codename "Balkan", and was put into operational evaluation in 2018.^[1][7] State tests were successfully completed and the weapon was recommended for introduction into service as of March 2021.^[8] The first serial batch was delivered in January 2022.^[9] AGS-40 can be installed on armored vehicles.^[10] The AGS-40 can be integrated with Kalashnikov MBDU remote weapon station.^[11]

Users

• Russian Federation

See also

• Comparison of automatic grenade launchers
• GP-25 – (Soviet Union)
• AGS-30 – (Russia)
• AGS-17 – (Soviet Union)
• Mk 19 grenade launcher – (United States)
• Daewoo Precision Industries K4 – (South Korea)
• Mk 47 Striker – (United States)
• Type 87 grenade launcher – (China)
• Type 04 grenade launcher – (China)
• Howa Type 96 – (Japan)
• Vektor Y3 AGL – (South Africa)
• SB LAG 40 – (Spain)
• HK GMG – (Germany)
• XM174 grenade launcher – (United States)
• Milkor MGL – (South Africa)
• RGS-50M – (Russia, Soviet Union)
• RGSh-30 – (Ukraine)
• RPO Rys – (Soviet Union)
• MRG-1 – (Soviet Union)