Military transport aircraft will be armed with cannons.

The general director of the Nizhny Novgorod Central Research Institute "Burevestnik" Georgy Zakamennykh told Rossiyskaya Gazeta that there was a decision to install a 57-mm aircraft cannon on military transport aircraft. As Zakamennykh specified, work is currently underway to create a universal cannon module. Its versatility will make it possible to mount it literally on any type of armored ground equipment, as well as on ships, and, which will be done for the first time in Russia, on airplanes.

Such a module will significantly increase the firepower of motorized rifle subunits. The possibilities of their combat use will significantly expand, since the 57-millimeter gun is an effective means of engaging a significant range of ground and air targets.

It should be especially noted that this module can be mounted not only on military transport aircraft, but also on helicopters.

For the first time, guns began to be installed on transport aircraft in the United States. Since then, such systems have been called gunship, that is, a cannon ship. This means that the ship is air. Such aircraft with guns were used by the Americans in the Vietnam War. Currently, their use is not widespread.

The reason for this is that effective shooting can be ensured under the condition of low-level flight. But in this case, the aircraft is in the zone of destruction of large-caliber machine guns and portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

The 57mm cannon will eliminate this drawback. Aimed fire can be conducted, including at maneuvering targets on the ground, provided that the plane is flying at an altitude of several kilometers.

Previously, the 57-mm caliber was used in the army and navy, but then it was abandoned. And now such tools are returning. These guns have high ballistics. A number of different ammunition is provided for them.

Modules with 57mm automatic cannons have been shown at Russian military technical showrooms. Among other things, they were shown at the Army-2018 forum. The "Armata" platform with such a module and an anti-aircraft gun based on the "Boomerang" armored personnel carrier were in the area of ​​special attention.

The option of installing heavy cannon weapons on a military transport aircraft was being worked out in the early 1990s. The Il-114 was supposed to be used. The cannon modules were supposed to be under its fuselage. The guns were to be a 120S2 Nona 23mm howitzer and a 30A2 automatic 42mm cannon. Unfortunately, the work was not completed. Perhaps now a module with a 114 mm cannon will be installed on the Il-57.

According to the military, who passed the "hot spots", aircraft with guns will have an effect in the fight against terrorist groups. The cannon will provide the ability not only to hit ground targets, but also to destroy drones.

The first demonstration of the universal module with a 57 mm cannon will take place in Abu Dhabi at the IDEX-2019 military-technical salon. It will be part of the Rostec exposition, of which Uralvagonzavod is a part, and hence the Petrel Central Research Institute.