Development began in the early 1960s, but trials of the gun and radar system continued until the mid-1970s. Faults not exposed in the initial test environment emerged after the weapon went to sea, leading to the improved AK-630M. Its multi-barrel 30 mm gun could fire roughly four to five thousand rounds per minute and traverse quickly through a wide arc. The generous elevation range made it useful against rapidly changing close threats, but published traverse figures still invite caution when compared with observed footage. Above all, that performance lasted only while the ship could keep the mount supplied from a substantial ammunition stock, turning close-in defence into a magazine and replenishment problem as well as a gun problem.
Notable Point · 53:43-57:24
AK-630 trials expose the cost of rapid close-in fire
The AK-630 close-in weapon took years of shipboard trials to mature, and its very high rate of fire created a demanding ammunition-supply problem.