Nudelman-Suranov NS-23
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| Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 |
| Caption | An NS-23 aircraft cannon. |
| Type | Autocannon |
| Origin | Soviet Union |
| Service | 1944–c. 1970s |
| Used by | Soviet Air Forces, Warsaw Pact allies, others |
| Designer | Alexander Nudelman, Alexander Suranov |
| Design date | 1943–1944 |
| Manufacturer | State factories |
| Variants | Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 |
| Weight | 37 kg (82 lb) |
| Length | 1,985 mm (78.1 in) |
| Part length | 1,450 mm (57.1 in) |
| Cartridge | 23×115mm |
| Caliber | 23 mm |
| Action | Gas-operated, revolver |
| Rate | 550–650 rounds/min |
| Velocity | 690 m/s (2,260 ft/s) |
| Feed | Belt-fed |
Nudelman-Suranov NS-23. The NS-23 was a Soviet autocannon developed during the latter stages of World War II to replace the Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23. Designed by the renowned team of Alexander Nudelman and Alexander Suranov, it became a standard aircraft armament in the early Cold War period. Its gas-operated, revolver-type mechanism offered improved reliability and was widely installed on numerous fighter aircraft and attack aircraft of the era.
Development and design
The development of the NS-23 was initiated in 1943 to address shortcomings in existing Soviet aircraft cannon like the Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23 and the Nudelman-Suranov NS-37. The design bureau led by Alexander Nudelman, who had also worked on the Nudelman N-37, collaborated with Alexander Suranov to create a weapon using the new, more ballistically efficient 23×115mm cartridge. The design utilized a gas-operated system with a revolving cylinder, a concept also seen in the German Mauser MG 213, which enhanced feeding reliability and rate of fire. Key testing and refinement took place at institutes like TsAGI and state proving grounds, leading to its rapid adoption by the Soviet Air Forces.
Operational history
The NS-23 entered service in 1944, seeing limited use in the final year of World War II on aircraft such as the Yakovlev Yak-9 and the Lavochkin La-7. Its primary service occurred in the postwar years, arming first-generation jet fighters like the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, and the Ilyushin Il-28 bomber. It was widely exported to Warsaw Pact nations, including Polish Air Force and Czechoslovak Air Force units, and saw combat during the Korean War in the wings of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15. The cannon was also used in conflicts in the Middle East and Southeast Asia before being gradually supplanted by more modern weapons like the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L.
Variants
The primary development of the NS-23 line was the improved Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23, which featured a higher rate of fire and entered service in the early 1950s. The NR-23 was a key armament on aircraft such as the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 and the Tupolev Tu-16. Other derivatives and related designs influenced later Soviet cannon development, including work by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. The ammunition family, particularly the 23×115mm round, was used in other systems like the ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun, though this was a different design from the ZPU series.
Specifications (NS-23)
* **Caliber:** 23 mm (23×115mm cartridge) * **Operation:** Gas-operated, revolver cylinder * **Length overall:** 1,985 mm * **Barrel length:** 1,450 mm * **Weight:** 37 kg (empty) * **Rate of fire:** 550–650 rounds per minute * **Muzzle velocity:** 690 m/s * **Feed system:** Disintegrating metallic link belt * **Primary platforms:** Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, Yakovlev Yak-15, Ilyushin Il-28
See also
* Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 * Volkov-Yartsev VYa-23 * Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L * Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 * 23×115mm
Category:Aircraft cannon Category:Cold War weapons of the Soviet Union Category:World War II Soviet aircraft weapons