AK-130

AK-130
Naval cannon AK-130 mounted on the Nastoychiviy destroyer.
Type	Naval cannon
Place of origin	USSR
Service history
Used by	USSR and Russia
Specifications
Length	9100 mm (70 calibers)
Caliber	130 mm
Elevation	85 degrees
Rate of fire	70 RPM
Maximum firing range	23,000 m

The AK-130 is an automatic naval cannon with a caliber of 130 mm.

The design of the cannon began in June 1976 in KB "Arsenal". A first single-barrel cannon designated A-217 was made, but later came the twin-barrel A-218, which was chosen due to its higher rate of fire and the likeness from the admiral of the USSR Navy S. G. Gorshkov. The cannon itself possesses many innovations, such as the unitary cannon cartridge, the automatic loading system, among others.

The "Barricades" factory handles the production of the first samples. The cannon went on trial operation on the Project 956 destroyer for 5 years, and was adopted into service in the USSR from November 1, 1985 onwards.

The automatic cannon has a high rate of fire (up to 70 RPM), but comes at the cost of excessive weight (autocannon at 98 tons, fire control system at 12 tons, and the mechanical ammo storage at 40 tons). The presence of the autoloader removed the need of a loader, and allows for continuous firing of the cannon until no ammo remained in the ammo storage. The fire control system has sight correction devices for bursts of falling shells and a target post for firing at coastal targets. Also thanks to its high rate of fire, when provided with adequate types of shells, the cannon can serve as an effective anti-aircraft artillery (the cartridges include charges with remote and radar detonators).

The "Lev-218" (MR-184) system, developed by KB "Ametist" on the basis of "Lev-114: (MR-114 from the AK-100), provides weapon guidance for the cannon. According to some reports, the "Lev-214" (MR-104) was used instead on Project 956 destroyers. The system includes a target tracking radar, a TV-sight, the DVU-2 laser rangefinder (this, along with the software, was developed by TsNIIAG and PO "LOMO", using an autonomous indirectly stabilized laser beam in 1977), a ballistic computer, the equipment selection system and counter-jamming systems. The system is able to receive target designation from the detection equipment on the ship, the movement parameters, elevate the cannons, and can adjust shooting bursts as well as track projectiles automatically.

The Russian Navy uses the cannon on Projects 956, 1144, 1164 and others. Two A-218 turrets are placed on every Project 956 destroyer, one each on the bow and the stern side before a tank and helicopter hangar was added. The traverse is limited to 100 degrees from either side, with 320 rounds stored in every turret. Project 956 and 956E destroyers, as well as their variants are equipped with this configuration.

On missile cruisers such as Projects 1164 and 1164A a single A-218 is installed in the front of the ship. A horizontal sector of 210 degrees is provided and 340 rounds are stored in the turret. "Moskva" cruisers are further equipped with the "Puma" modernization device for artillery guidance systems (which is essentially the analogue of the "Podacha" terrestrial complex) for centralized "aimless" aiming at targets.