The 30mm AGS-17 Automatic Grenade Launcher is a reliable weapon with great destruction capabilities and reasonable weight. It has been the weapon of choice for the Russian and Soviet Armed Forces since 1971, which proves its reliability, efficiency and durability.The platform is extremely reliable but can also be easily maintained and fixed in the field, which is very important for regular troops. It’s a perfect Automatic Grenade Launcher for offensive and defensive operations. The great destruction power combined with wide selection of 30mm grenade types considerably augment firepower and combat capabilities of any unit.
The AGS-17 is a heavy infantry support weapon designed to operate from a tripod or mounted on an installation or vehicle. The AGS-17 fires 30 mm grenades in either direct or indirect fire to provide suppressive and lethal fire support against soft skinned or fortified targets. The weapon uses a blowback mechanism to sustain operation. Rounds are fired through a removable (to reduce barrel stress) rifled barrel. The standard metal ammunition drum contains 29 linked rounds. The tripod is equipped with fine levelling gear for indirect fire trajectories. It is still in use with the Russian army as a direct fire support weapon for infantry troops; it is also installed in several vehicle mounts.
The AGS-17 fires 30×29 mm belted cartridges with a steel cartridge case. Two types of ammunition are commonly fired from the AGS-17. The VOG-17M is the version of the original 30 mm grenade ammunition, which is currently available and has a basic high explosive fragmentation warhead. The VOG-30 is similar, but contains a better explosive filling and an enhanced fragmentation design that greatly increases the effective blast radius. New improved VOG-30D grenade was taken into service in 2013 for use with AGS-17 and AGS-30 grenade launchers.
