GShG-7.62 machine gun

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	Weapon: GShG-7.62 machine gun Type: Aircraft Machine Gun Country of Origin: USSR Year Adopted: 1970 Overall Length (mm): 800.0 Overall Length (in): 31.5 Weight (kg): 19.00 Weight (pounds): 41.89

The GShG-7.62 is a four-barreled rotary machine gun developed in the Soviet Union by the designers Gryazev and Shipunov in the early 1970s. Designed primarily for aircraft and helicopter use, the GShG-7.62 utilizes a hybrid gas-operated and electrically-driven rotary mechanism, allowing for high rates of fire in a compact package. It chambers the 7.62x54mmR cartridge and can fire at rates between 4,000 and 6,000 rounds per minute, making it one of the fastest-firing guns of its caliber. The weapon is notable for its unique blend of Gatling-style rotary operation and a gas system that initiates barrel rotation after the first shot.

The GShG-7.62 was produced in limited numbers, primarily for specialized military aircraft and helicopter gun pods, including the Soviet Mi-24 "Hind" attack helicopter. While precise production figures remain classified or unclear, its deployment was relatively limited compared to more conventional machine guns. The gun was typically mounted in the **Yak-B** rotating turret on Mi-24s or in **UPK-23-250** or **GUV gun pods** used by rotary-wing aircraft. Its extreme rate of fire made it particularly effective in short, high-intensity engagements at close range, though it was limited by barrel wear and ammunition consumption.

In service, the GShG-7.62 gained a reputation for its devastating firepower and mechanical complexity. While not widely adopted due to logistical and technical demands, it stands out as one of the few gas-operated rotary machine guns ever fielded. Its notoriety is tied to the fearsome reputation of Soviet/Russian attack helicopters and their gunship roles during the Cold War and in regional conflicts. Today, the GShG-7.62 remains a relatively rare weapon, more often seen in specialized roles or static mounts, and is a subject of interest among military analysts and collectors of exotic rotary weapons.

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