AGS-17

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.{{Cite web |title=AGS-17 - Automatic grenade launcher |url=http://www.military-today.com/firearms/ags_17.htm |access-date=2018-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022193436if_/http://www.military-today.com/firearms/ags_17.htm |archive-date=2018-10-22 |url-status=usurped }}{{cite web |title=AGS-17 |url=http://modernfirearms.net/en/grenade-launchers/russia-grenade-launchers/ags-17-eng/ |website=modernfirearms.net |date=28 October 2010 |publisher=Modern Firearms |access-date=2018-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817042023/http://modernfirearms.net/en/grenade-launchers/russia-grenade-launchers/ags-17-eng/ |archive-date=2018-08-17 |url-status=live }}

The tripod is equipped with fine levelling gear for indirect fire trajectories.

Development of the AGS-17 (Avtomaticheskiy Granatomyot Stankovyi—Automatic Grenade launcher, Mounted) started in the USSR in 1965 by the OKB-16 design bureau (now known as the KB Tochmash), under the leadership of Alexander F. Kornyakov.

This lightweight weapon was to provide infantry with close to medium range fire support against enemy personnel and unarmored targets, like trucks, half-tracks, jeeps and sandbag-protected machine-gun nests. The first prototypes of the new weapon entered trials in 1969, with mass production commencing in 1971. The AGS-17 was widely operated and well-liked by Soviet troops in Afghanistan as a ground support weapon or as a vehicle weapon on improvised mounts installed on armoured personnel carriers and trucks.

A special airborne version of the AGS-17, the AG-17A, was developed for installation on helicopters, including the Mi-24 Hind in gun pods and the Mil Mi-8 on door mounts. This weapon had a thick aluminium jacket on the barrel and used a special mount and an electric remotely controlled trigger.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://kbtochmash.com/About-eng/hist-eng/|website=kbtochmash.com |access-date=2022-01-04}}

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 and turrets along with machine guns, guided rocket launchers and sighting equipment. It is being replaced by the AGS-30 launcher, which fires the same ammunition, but weighs only 16 kg unloaded on the tripod and has an upgraded blowback action.

• AG-17A - remotely controlled aircraft-mounted version with an electric trigger mechanism.
• AGS-17D - remotely controlled vehicle-mounted version with an electric trigger mechanism.

Ukrainian company Precision Systems developed a miniaturized handheld version of AGS-17 called RGSh-30{{Cite web |url=https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/20161108.aspx |title=Weapons: Semi-Automatic Grenade Launchers |access-date=2018-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170409/https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/20161108.aspx |archive-date=2018-07-26 |url-status=live }} "in order to create a grenade launcher that could respond to the needs of Ukrainian units and special forces operating in the Donbas". RGSh-30 is designed to disable armored vehicles.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/18/im-sorry-ukrainian-firm-develops-handheld-automatic-grenade-launcher/ |title=Portable DESTRUCTION: Ukrainian Firm Develops Handheld Automatic Grenade Launcher - |date=18 October 2016 |access-date=2017-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211162524/http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/18/im-sorry-ukrainian-firm-develops-handheld-automatic-grenade-launcher/ |archive-date=2017-12-11 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.richardcyoung.com/essential-news/ukrainian-firm-develops-handheld-automatic-grenade-launcher/ |title=Ukrainian Firm Develops Handheld Automatic Grenade Launcher |date=18 October 2016 |access-date=2017-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211160942/https://www.richardcyoung.com/essential-news/ukrainian-firm-develops-handheld-automatic-grenade-launcher/ |archive-date=2017-12-11 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.unian.info/society/1579616-ukraine-presents-light-grenade-launcher-for-special-forces-in-donbas.html |title=Ukraine presents light grenade launcher for special forces in Donbas |access-date=2017-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212031433/https://www.unian.info/society/1579616-ukraine-presents-light-grenade-launcher-for-special-forces-in-donbas.html |archive-date=2017-12-12 |url-status=live }} that can be carried like an assault rifle. RGSh-30 uses magazines with five 30mm VOG-17 grenades.

Precision Systems plans to develop versions using 20mm, 25mm, and 40mm grenades.

The AGS-17 fires {{ill|30×29 mm|ru|30×29 мм}} belted cartridges with a steel cartridge case.{{Cite web |url=http://russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_30mm.html |title=From 25mm to 30mm - the Russian Ammunition Page |access-date=2018-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227173125/http://russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_30mm.html |archive-date=2018-02-27 |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://translate.google.pl/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=pl&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fria.ru%2Farms%2F20161110%2F1481078425.html&edit-text=&act=url|title = Tłumacz Google}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.armaco.bg/en/product/automatic-grenade-launchers-c12/agl-17-automatic-grenade-launcher-p508 |title=AGL-17 Automatic Grenade Launcher | Armaco JSC. Bulgaria |access-date=2017-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125111642/http://www.armaco.bg/en/product/automatic-grenade-launchers-c12/agl-17-automatic-grenade-launcher-p508 |archive-date=2017-11-25 |url-status=live }} It was ordered by the Russian Defense Ministry in August 2023.{{cite web | url=https://tass.com/defense/1661363 | title=Russian Defense Ministry awards $4.15 BLN worth contracts to defense industry companies }} The same month, the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine begun to receive VOG-17 grenades, factory modified for use by commercial drones.{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/0823/090074870/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / Российские войска на передовой начали получать заводские боеприпасы для применения с коммерческих коптеров }}

The Bulgarian weapons manufacturer Arcus produces AR-ROG hand grenades based on VOG-17 cartridges and {{ill|UZRGM|ru|УЗРГ}} (Russian: УЗРГМ), which is also a Soviet design of fuse.{{cite web|url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/Arcus-AR-ROG-defensive-hand-grenade-Bulgaria.html|title=Arcus AR-ROG defensive hand grenade (Bulgaria), Grenades - Hand|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503102444/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Infantry-Weapons/Arcus-AR-ROG-defensive-hand-grenade-Bulgaria.html|archive-date=3 May 2012|url-status=live}} Similar improvised grenades are known as "khattabkas".{{cite book|author1=Boris Pribylov |author2=Evgeny Kravchenko |title=Ручные и ружейные гранаты |trans-title=Hand and Rifle Grenades |publisher= Arktika 4D |isbn=978-5-902835-04-2|year=2008 |page=672|language=ru}}

• VOG-17M (HE)
• IO-30 (HE)
• IO-30TP (Practice)
• VOG-30 (HE)
• VOG-30D (HE)
• VUS-30 (Smoke)

File:AGS-17 Plamya Users.png

• {{flagcountry|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan}}Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2869-5}}.{{Cite web |title=Armor of the Afghanistan War: No. 2009 (Firepower Pictorials Special S.) - Zaloga, Steven; Luczak, Wojciech; Beldam, Barry: 9789623619097 - AbeBooks |url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9789623619097/Armor-Afghanistan-2009-Firepower-Pictorials-962361909X/plp |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=www.abebooks.co.uk |language=en-GB}}
• {{flag|Angola}}
• {{flag|Armenia}}: Imported{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}
• {{AZE}}{{Cite web|title=Azerbaijan fires AGS-17 grenade launcher at Nagorno Karabakh line of contact|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/862916.html|access-date=2021-01-06|website=armenpress.am|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Azerbaijani forces fire AGS-17 grenade launcher at north-eastern direction of NK line of contact|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/874537/eng/|access-date=2021-01-06|website=armenpress.am|language=en}}
• {{flag|Bulgaria}}: A modernized version, the AGL-30M, produced locally by Arsenal AD.[http://www.arsenal-bg.com/defense_police/30%20mm%20AGL-30M.htm 30 mm ARSENAL Automatic Grenade Launcher AGL-30M] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105012025/http://www.arsenal-bg.com/defense_police/30%20mm%20AGL-30M.htm |date=2013-01-05 }}
• {{flag|Chad}}
• {{flag|China}}: Produced by Norinco based on captured examples from Mujahideen groups.{{Cite web |url=http://www.armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Arms-and-Munitions-Brief-No.-1-QLZ-87-Automatic-Grenade-Launcher.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020105437/http://www.armamentresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Arms-and-Munitions-Brief-No.-1-QLZ-87-Automatic-Grenade-Launcher.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-20 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+new+generation+of+AGLs%3A+within+only+a+few+decades+the+Automatic...-a086195789|title=A new generation of AGLs: within only a few decades the Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL) has leapt from the concept stage to becoming a widely accepted and valued infantry support weapon, providing the foot soldier with a highly effective area fire suppression system.|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430050116/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+new+generation+of+AGLs%3A+within+only+a+few+decades+the+Automatic...-a086195789|archive-date=30 April 2011|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Cuba}}
• {{flag|Czech Republic}}
• {{flag|Ecuador}}: Used during Cenepa War 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://aquellasarmasdeguerra.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/algunas-armas-utilizadas-en-la-guerra-del-cenepa-1995/ |title=Algunas armas utilizadas en la guerra del Cenepa (1995) |date=3 October 2012 }}
• {{flag|Georgia}}{{cite web|url=http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=9&lang=en |title=Armament of the Georgian Army |access-date=23 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309192408/http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=9&lang=en |archive-date=9 March 2012 }}
• {{flag|Iraq}}: Produced under license.
• {{flag|Islamic State}}{{cite web|language=fr|url=https://historicoblog4.blogspot.com/2017/09/mourir-pour-le-califat-116-en-verite.html|title=Mourir pour le califat 116/" En vérité, ils seront noyés "-Wilayat al-Raqqa|date=27 September 2017|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153159/https://historicoblog4.blogspot.com/2017/09/mourir-pour-le-califat-116-en-verite.html|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Ivory Coast}}{{cite report|language=fr|title=Enquête nationale sur les armes légères et de petit calibre en Côte d'Ivoire: les défis du contrôle des armes et de la lutte contre la violence armée avant la crise post-électorale|first=Savannah|last=de Tessières|publisher=UNDP, Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la Prolifération et la Circulation Illicite des Armes Légères et de Petit Calibre and Small Arms Survey|date=April 2012|series=Special Report No. 14|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR14-CoteIvoire.pdf|page=97|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009102938/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR14-CoteIvoire.pdf|archive-date=2018-10-09|url-status=dead}}
• {{flag|Montenegro}}: Designated the M93.
• {{flag|Mozambique}}
• {{flag|Myanmar}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sanhenews.com/227720987_115427 |title=南海点兵 | 缅甸陆军位列"中南半岛三强"之一，曾令泰国恐慌 - 三河新闻网 |access-date=2018-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804170234/http://www.sanhenews.com/227720987_115427 |archive-date=2018-08-04 |url-status=dead }}
• {{flag|Nicaragua}}
• {{flag|North Korea}}{{cite book|title=North Korea Country Handbook 1997, Appendix A: Equipment Recognition|chapter=AGS-17 AUTOMATIC GRENADE LAUNCHER|page=A-89|author=US Department of Defense|chapter-url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nkor.pdf|access-date=2015-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111733/http://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/nkor.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Russia}}[https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12521045@egNews На Сахалине военнослужащие ВВО приняли участие в боевых стрельбах из гранатомета АГС-17 «Пламя»] // официальный интернет-сайт министерства обороны РФ от 19 июля 2024
• {{flag|Serbia}}: Designated the M93 Produced under license.{{cite book|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2008.html|chapter-url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2008/en/Small-Arms-Survey-2008-Chapter-01-EN.pdf|chapter=Light Weapons: Products, Producers, and Proliferation|title=Small Arms Survey 2008: Risk and Resilience|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2008|author=Small Arms Survey|page=24|isbn=978-0-521-88040-4|access-date=2018-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174225/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/publications/by-type/yearbook/small-arms-survey-2008.html|archive-date=2018-08-30|url-status=dead|author-link=Small Arms Survey}}
• {{flag|Sierra Leone}}{{cite web|title=World Infantry Weapons: Sierra Leone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124203938/https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_sierraleone|archive-date=24 November 2016|url=https://sites.google.com/site/worldinventory/wiw_af_sierraleone|date=2013}}
• {{flag|Slovakia}}{{cite web |title=Vcvikov tde v Prpore vcviku Martin |url=http://www.mil.sk/28065/vycvikovy-tyzden-v-prapore-vycviku-martin.php?pg=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129091013/http://www.mil.sk/28065/vycvikovy-tyzden-v-prapore-vycviku-martin.php?pg=1 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=23 November 2014}}
• {{flag|Somalia}}
• {{flag|Sudan}}: Used by the Sudanese Armed Forces, some captured by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North{{cite book|title=New war, old enemies: Conflict dynamics in South Kordofan|first1=Claudio|last1=Gramizzi|first2=Jérôme|last2=Tubiana|publisher=Small Arms Survey|date=March 2013|series=HSBA Working Paper 29|isbn=978-2-9700856-2-1|url=http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/working-papers/HSBA-WP29-S.Kordofan.pdf|page=34|access-date=2019-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610043057/http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/fileadmin/docs/working-papers/HSBA-WP29-S.Kordofan.pdf|archive-date=2016-06-10|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Syria}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-GqmKWuEo На границе Джобара и Замальки | At the border of Jobar and Zamalka.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406214022/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-GqmKWuEo |date=2017-04-06 }} 16 January 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
• {{TUR}}{{Cite web|title=Turkey ags|url=https://twitter.com/isozygio/status/1332416045987065859}}
• {{flag|Vietnam}}: Made under license in Z125 Factory.{{Cite web |url=http://netnews.vn/Viet-Nam-san-xuat-sung-ban-400-phatphut-xa-gan-2km-quan-su-150-159-1180540.html |title=Việt Nam sản xuất súng bắn 400 phát/Phút, xa gần 2km - Vũ Khí - NetNews.vn |access-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104004601/http://netnews.vn/Viet-Nam-san-xuat-sung-ban-400-phatphut-xa-gan-2km-quan-su-150-159-1180540.html |archive-date=2016-11-04 |url-status=live }}[http://quocphong.baodatviet.vn/Home/QPCN/Viet-Nam-che-tao-may-tao-ranh-cho-sung-chong-bien-nguoi/20128/228076.datviet Vietnam made groove machine guns against the "wave people" (in Vietnamese)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029111005/http://quocphong.baodatviet.vn/Home/QPCN/Viet-Nam-che-tao-may-tao-ranh-cho-sung-chong-bien-nguoi/20128/228076.datviet |date=October 29, 2012 }} Known under the Vietnamese industrial name of SPL-17.{{cite web |url=https://www.tienphong.vn/hanh-trang-nguoi-linh/kham-pha-vu-khi-dac-trung-cua-quan-doi-viet-nam-878513.tpo |title = Khám phá vũ khí đặc trưng của quân đội Việt Nam| date=July 2015 }}

• {{flag|Czechoslovakia|1945}}{{cite magazine|title=Tempête rouge sur l'Europe|trans-title=Red Storm over Europe|magazine=Batailles & Blindés|pages=38–59|issue=52|issn=1765-0828|date=December 2012|publisher=Caraktère|language=fr}}
• {{flag|Finland}}: designated 30 KrKK AGS-17, replaced by the HK GMG in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://hem.passagen.se/finnisharmyequipment/index2.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-08-06 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126095121/http://hem.passagen.se/finnisharmyequipment/index2.htm |archive-date=2010-11-26 }}
• {{flag|Latvia}}: Used in the 1990s, now replaced by the HK GMG.
• {{flag|Soviet Union}}: Passed on to successor states.

• AGS-30, first successor
• AGS‑40 Balkan, second successor using caseless high-explosive 40mm 7P39 grenades.
• Daewoo Precision Industries K4, South Korean 40 mm grenade launcher
• GA-40 similar weapon {{in lang|pl}}
• HK GMG, similar weapon
• Howa Type 96, similar weapon
• Milkor MGL, another South African 40 mm grenade launcher
• Mk 19 grenade launcher, similar weapon
• SB LAG 40
• Type 87 grenade launcher, used by the People's Liberation Army
• Vektor Y3 AGL
• XM174 grenade launcher, similar weapon

• {{Cite book

| last = Koll

| first = Christian

| title = Soviet Cannon: A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm

| publisher = Koll

| year = 2009

| location = Austria

| url = http://www.russianammo.org

| isbn = 978-3-200-01445-9

| page = 239

}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://archive.redstar.ru/index.php/newspaper/item/5048-iz-iskryi-razgorelos-plamya |title=Из искры разгорелось "Пламя" |author=Andrey Garavsky |date=2012 |work=Red Star |access-date=2022-01-04}} {{in lang|ru}}

}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ags-17}}

Category:Automatic grenade launchers

Category:Cold War weapons of the Soviet Union

Category:Grenade launchers of the Soviet Union

Category:KBP Instrument Design Bureau products

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s