Title: AGS-17 Content: The AGS-17 Plamya is a Soviet automatic grenade launcher. (Plamya means flame in Russian. AGS stands for .) It was designed to fire 30x29mm grenades. It was designed by Alexander Fedorovich Kornyakov and OKB-16 (now KBP Tula). It was manufactured by "Molot" Plant. Multiple countries use the AGS-17. It was later replaced by the AGS-30. ==History== thumb|300px|Afghan Insurgents using an AGS-17 The AGS-17 "Plamya" was designed in 1968 by Alexander Fedorovich Kornyakov and OKB-16, but manufactured by "Molot" plant. It was designed to arm Soviet troops to fire at unarmored troops. It was first seen in service in 1971. ===Use=== The AGS-17 has been used in many wars, these include the Syrian Civil War, Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and more. =====Soviet-Afghan War===== During the Soviet-Afghan War, the AGS-17 was used on Trucks, Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other vehicles during the war, but the AG-17A was used on Mi-8s. ====First Chechen War==== During the First Chechen War, Russia used the AGS-17 against Chechnya, but also some Chechens may have stolen the weapon from Russian soldiers. ====South African Border War==== The South African Army bought the AGS-17. It was the first time it was used outside of Afghanistan. ====Syrian Civil War==== During the Syrian Civil War, the Syrian Republican Guard, the rebel Syrian National Army, and IS fighters all used AGS-17 Plamya. ====Russo-Ukrainian War==== A video was seen of troops using an AGS-17 during the 2014 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, but Ukraine used the RGSh-30. Donetsk and Luhansk, with the Russian Ground Forces, have also used the AGS-17 against Ukraine. ====Yemeni Civil War==== During the Yemeni Civil War, almost all have used the AGS-17, including Saudi Arabia, Houthis and other factions. ====2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict==== During the Nagorno- Karabkh conflict, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have used the weapons against each other. ====2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine==== During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the AGS-17 has been used by Russia and Ukraine against each other, as it has seen intense fighting in the Counter-Offensive, Kyiv Offensive and other battles. It has also been seen in the hands of Territorial Defense forces, Donetsk, and Luhansk. ==Design== The AGS-17 Plamya combines the properties of a mortar, with the abilities to use mounted fire, and the properties of automatic guns, with an 840mm barrel. The AGS-17 is belt fed, with a belt containing about 17 grenades. To this day it is still used by the Russian Ground Forces. The intended purpose was to stop armored vehicles and enemy infantry. ===Ammunition=== The AGS-17 is belt-fed. It uses 30x29mm grenades with steel casing. It usually uses VOG-17M, the standard grenade for the AGS-17, and the VOG-30, which was a better version of the VOG-17M with more explosive filling and fragmentation. There is also the VOG-30D, a new, improved variant of the VOG-30, introduced in 2013. There is also the IO-30 grenade, which is HE (highly explosive), and the IO-30TP which is a practice grenade used for training. Finally, it also uses the VUS-30, which is a smoke grenade. There is a Bulgarian company named Arcus that made handheld grenades based on the VOG-17M, which are called the AR-ROG. ===Variants=== There are multiple variants of the AGS-17, which include: ====AG-17A==== The AG-17A is a remote controlled variant of the AGS-17, with a heavier barrel and higher rate of fire, which is put on vehicles and helicopters such as the Mi-8 and GAZ Tigr. ====AG-17D==== A variant of the AG-17A, which is also remote controlled. ====RGSh-30==== The RGSh-30 is a Ukrainian variant of the AGS-17 made by a company named Precisions Systems. It has the same purpose of the AGS-17, to destroy enemy vehicles and infantry. It fires VOG-17 grenades, but it only has a 5 round belt. ====AGS-30==== A successor of the AGS-17, the AGS-30 fires 30x29mm. It was first seen in 2002, but developed in 1971. It comes with a 2.7x magnification scope, and has a longer range. It has been seen in use multiple times in Chechnya and other places, but it is heavier. =====AG-30M===== The AG-30M is a variant of the AGS-30. It is remote controlled, and sometimes is also placed on vehicles such as the Mi-8, similar to the AGS-17D and AGS-17A. ====AGL-30==== A Bulgarian variant of the AGS-17. ====M93==== A Montenegrin and Serbian name for the AGS-17. ====30 KrKK AGS-17==== Finnish variant and name for the AGS-17. ==Users== ===Current=== The AGS-17 has multiple users, these include: *Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . *Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . * * * * - Produced by Chinese companies. * * * * * * - produced under license. * * * - Renamed the M93 * * * * * * - Also renamed the M93 * * * * - Used by Republican Guard.На границе Джобара и Замальки | At the border of Jobar and Zamalka. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014. * - Renamed the RGSh-30. * * - Made under license, also known as the SPL-17.Vietnam made groove machine guns against the "wave people" (in Vietnamese) ===Former Operators=== * - Renamed30 KrKK AGS-17, replaced by the HK GMG in 2005. * * * - They were handed to former soviet republics. * - Used by the South African Defense Forces. *