Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23

{{Infobox weapon

| is_ranged = yes

| name = Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23

| image = Izhmash museum-15.jpg

| origin = Soviet Union

| type = Rotary cannon

| designer = Vassily P. Gryazev and Arkady G. Shipunov

| design_date =

| manufacturer = KBP Instrument Design Bureau Tula

| service = 1975-present

| cartridge = 23×115mm AM-23

| caliber = 23 mm

| action = Gas-operated

| rate = 10,000 (standard).{{cite book|last1=Gordon, Komissarov|first1=Yefim, Dmitriy|title=Flight Craft 8: Mikoyan MiG-31: Defender of the Homeland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P7LWCgAAQBAJ&q=Gryazev-Shipunov+GSh-6-23&pg=PA9|isbn=9781473869202|date=30 October 2011|publisher=Pen & Sword Books Limited }}{{cite book|last1=Skaarup|first1=Harold|title=Canadian MiG Flights|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CPXN5nm31o0C&q=GSh-6-23&pg=PA64|isbn=9780595520718|date=May 2008|publisher=iUniverse }}

| velocity = 715 m/s (2345 ft/s)

| weight = 73–76 kg (161–167 lb)

| length = 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)

| part_length = 1 m (3 ft 34 in)

| height = 18 cm (7 in)

| barrels = 6

| feed = Belt or linkless feed system

| caption = GSh-6-23M on the installation of 9-EYU-768K, designed to equip the MiG-31 interceptor

}}

The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23 ({{langx|ru|Грязев-Шипунов ГШ-6-23}}) (GRAU designation: 9A-620 for GSh-6-23, 9A-768 for GSh-6-23M modernized variant) is a six-barreled 23 mm rotary cannon used by some modern Soviet/Russian military aircraft.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P7LWCgAAQBAJ&q=gsh-6-23m&pg=RA1-PA67 | title=Flight Craft 8: Mikoyan MiG-31: Defender of the Homeland| isbn=9781473869202| last1=Gordon| first1=Yefim| last2=Komissarov| first2=Dmitriy| date=30 October 2011| publisher=Pen & Sword Books Limited}}

The GSh-6-23 differs from most American multi-barreled aircraft cannon in that it is gas-operated, rather than externally powered via an electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic system.

File:Tula State Museum of Weapons (79-54).jpg

The GSh-6-23 uses the 23×115 Russian AM-23 round, fed via linked cartridge belt or a linkless feed system.{{cite web|url=http://www.russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_25mm.html#8|title=From 20mm to 25mm - The Russian Ammunition Page|access-date=26 November 2014}} The linkless system, adopted after numerous problems and failures with the belt feed, is limited.{{cite web|url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/corrections.html|title=Untitled Document|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521105612/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/corrections.html|url-status=dead}}{{Better source|date=February 2015}} Fire control is electrical, using a 27 V DC system. The cannon has 10 pyrotechnic cocking charges, similar to those used in European gas-operated revolver cannon such as the DEFA 554 or Mauser BK-27.

The rapid rate of fire exhausts ammunition quickly: the Mikoyan MiG-31 aircraft, for example, with 260 rounds of ammunition (800 rounds maximum), would empty its ammunition tank in less than two seconds.

GSh-6-23M has the highest rate of fire out of any autocannon so far.{{cite web |url=http://www.deagel.com/Cannons-and-Gear/GSh-6-23M_a001887001.aspx |title=GSh-6-23M }}

The GSh-6-23 is used by the Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft, the MiG-31 interceptor aircraft, and the now-obsolete Sukhoi Su-15 among others. However, after two Su-24s were lost because of premature shell detonation in 1983, and because of some other problems with gun usage (such as system failures), usage of the GSh-6-23 was stopped by a decision of the Soviet Air Force Command. At present all aircraft in the Russian Aerospace Forces are flying with fully operational guns.{{cite web|url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/corrections.html|title=Untitled Document|access-date=26 November 2014|archive-date=21 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521105612/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/corrections.html|url-status=dead}}

It is also used in the SPPU-6 gun pod, which can traverse to −45° elevation, and ±45° azimuth.{{Cite web|url=http://weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/HH13%20-%20SPPU-6.html|title=SPPU-6}}