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Munitions / Pods / SPPU-22

SPPU-22

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Gun pod

  • ORIGIN
    USSR

  • NICKNAMES
    SPPU / Samolyatnaya Podvizhnaya Pushechnuaya Ustanovka, aircraft movable gun pod

  • DESIGNED
    1970's

  • DESIGNER
    MMPP design bureau

  • PRODUCTION
    1970's - present

  • PRODUCERS
    Russia
    USSR

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Good firepower
    Flexible armament
    Pre-defined depression angle
    Heavier than UPK-23
    Not suitable for helicopters

Introduction

The SPPU-22 is a powerful late Cold War era gun pod of Soviet origin. It was developed in the 1970's for use on fixed wing aircraft. The SPPU-22 has the unique feature of its aremament that can be elevated downwards. The name SPPU stands for Samolyatnaya Podvizhnaya Pushechnuaya Ustanovka which is Russian for aircraft movable gun pod.

Design

The SPPU-22 is a long and round pod with aerodynamic shape. The single twin barrel GSh-23L autocannon is mounted in a fairing at the bottem of the pod. Normally the armament is flush with the pod can be fired directly forwards. The SPPU-22 also has the ability to lower its armament up to 30 degrees. This allows the aircraft to remain level at low altitude and still be able to strafe ground targets. Alternatively when the pods are mounted backwards they may be used to suppress ground targets as the aircraft flies away. A combination for forward and rearward mounted pods is also possible.

Firepower

The SPPU-22 is armed with a single twin barrel GSh-23L autocannon for which 260 rounds of 23x115mm ammunition are carried. The cyclic rate of fire is 3.000 rpm and the maximum effective range is 2 km. The 23mm rounds are effective against infantry, soft skin vehicles and light armored vehicles. Since the level of depression is set before flight the pilot is limited to several flight paths or must use it firing directly forwards.

Platform

The SPPU-22 is most commonly used on the Su-17 Fitter, Su-25 Frogfoot and MiG-23 and MiG-27 Flogger. In theory the SPPU-22 can be used on helicopters and other fixed wing aircraft but it can only be fired directly forwards, making the lighter UPK-23 pod a much better alternative. The SPPU-22 remains available although it is unknown if these are newly produced or refurbished pods.

Variants

SPPU-22

SPPU-22: The SPPU-22 is a gun pod with the twin barrel GSh-23L with 260 rounds of ammunition as armament. The gun is moveable and may be fired flush with the aircraft or depressed downwards up to 30 degrees. There are no derivatives or variants.

TypeGun pod
PlatformAircraft
Length3.8 m
Diameter0.40 m
Weight320 kg loaded
Armament23mm GSh-23 autocannon with 260 rounds
RemarksFlexible armament with +0 to -30° elevation, 250 mm lug spacing

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