Do you wish to see such Flak Batteries in-game?
- Yes, as Playable Units
- Yes, as A.I Units
- No, I don’t want to see them in-game
0
voters
Soviet KS-30 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Battery
Disclaimer
I originally planned to submit this as an official suggestion for the upcoming SAM DLC, inspired by seeing a Patriot battery being proposed. However, it seems that suggestion was ultimately removed as they do not allow trailer vehicles. Since I’ve put a great deal of time and effort into researching and preparing this one, I’ve decided to leave it here rather than let the work go to waste.
The reason why I am suggesting this specific weapon is because the KS-30 is the only Soviet flak gun that, as far as visual evidence shows, was never mounted on any self-propelled ground platform. It could work well as part of the upcoming SAM DLC, where the battery optical unit (PUAZO-30) would coordinate the launch vehicles, or in this case, the KS-30 flak guns. Or it could simply be added into Air-RB as an A.I unit. What do you think? How do you think these could work?
Please note that I am specifically advocating for the inclusion of flak batteries that were never mounted on any self-propelled ground platform. If a flak gun had a self-propelled version, I do not believe it should be eligible to be included as battery.
Introduction
The KS-30 was a large-caliber Soviet anti-aircraft gun developed in the early Cold War period to counter the threat posed by high-flying strategic bombers. Conceived during a time when jet aircraft were rapidly outpacing existing air defense artillery, the KS-30 was among the last and most powerful of the traditional heavy anti-aircraft guns fielded by the Soviet Union. Although the KS-30 was replaced in front-line air defense by missile systems within about a decade of its introduction, many guns remained in reserve or semi-static roles for much longer, with some examples still mobilized or exported well into the late Cold War.
Design and Technical Characteristics
Spoiler
The KS-30 was a towed 130 mm anti-aircraft cannon built for long-range, high-altitude engagement. Its barrel was approximately 8.4 meters long, giving it an extended reach and high muzzle velocity necessary to hit aircraft at altitudes well above the capabilities of smaller-caliber guns. The gun fired a 33-kilogram high-explosive shell with a muzzle velocity approaching 1,000 meters per second, providing both impressive vertical and horizontal reach. It could effectively engage aerial targets at altitudes up to about 20.8 kilometers and strike at horizontal distances beyond 27.8 kilometers. Its rate of fire, remarkable for its size, averaged around 12 rounds per minute when operated by a well-trained crew of 11 men, thanks to semi-automatic loading aids and mechanical hoists and rammers. A hydraulically controlled breech and recoil system absorbed the immense force generated by each shot, while the heavy carriage distributed this energy across four large stabilizing outriggers.
The KS-30, much like the smaller KS-19, was equipped with an automatic fuse-setting system that allowed it to adjust each shell’s detonation time precisely before firing. This feature was essential for engaging high-speed, high-altitude targets effectively. The battery’s fire control director calculated the exact timing for the shell to explode near the target based on continuously updated tracking data from the SON-30 radar and PUAZO-30 optical station. As each projectile was hoisted toward the breech by the gun’s powered loading system, the automatic fuse setter received this data and mechanically set the nose fuse to the correct time delay. This process was fully integrated into the gun’s semi-automatic loading cycle: the breech closed and locked automatically, the gun fired, and the spent casing was ejected without manual intervention. This level of automation enabled the KS-30 to maintain a relatively high rate of fire for such a large-caliber weapon while ensuring that each shell detonated at the optimal point to create an effective anti-aircraft fragmentation pattern. The level of automation was so impressive that the cannon did not require any crew apart from the loaders; it could operate entirely under the control of the PUAZO director or the SON radar.
Towing Vehicle
Spoiler
For mobility, the KS-30 was designed to be towed by heavy tracked artillery tractors or powerful trucks. For the purposes of this suggestion, the selected and visually confirmed towing vehicle will be the iconic AT-T artillery tractor.
The AT-T, short for Artilleriyskiy Tyagach Tyazholiy or “heavy artillery tractor,” was a tracked prime mover developed in the Soviet Union after World War II to tow the heaviest guns and missile systems, including the KS-30. Built on a modified T-54 tank chassis with the engine and transmission moved to the front, it provided better balance when hauling large loads and featured a flat cargo deck at the rear for crew or supplies. Development began in the late 1940s, and the tractor soon became widespread in Soviet and Warsaw Pact service due to its power and off-road reliability.
Weighing about twenty tons empty, the AT-T could tow loads over twenty-five tons, ideal for moving the massive KS-30. It was roughly seven meters long and three meters wide and high, powered by a robust twelve-cylinder diesel engine producing over 400 horsepower, reaching speeds up to 35 km/h. Its tracked suspension with five road wheels per side gave it the traction needed on soft or muddy ground. A powerful built-in winch allowed crews to maneuver heavy guns into position or recover stuck equipment. The cabin seated the driver and a small crew, while the rear platform carried extra troops, ammunition, or tools.
The AT-T also served as the base for various engineering and radar vehicles and was even used in remote expeditions thanks to its rugged design. Paired with the KS-30, it was essential for moving and resupplying the battery in the field, carrying spare parts and extra shells to keep the guns ready. The AT-T remained in use for decades, and many survive today in museums and collections, representing an era when raw mechanical power enabled the Soviet military to deploy some of the heaviest artillery systems of the Cold War.
Battery Structure and Organization
Spoiler
A typical KS-30 battery was a carefully coordinated unit rather than just a collection of individual guns. Each battery normally consisted of four guns arranged in a defensive ring or arc around a central fire control and radar unit. The guns themselves were positioned on leveled concrete or prepared ground, with each emplacement fortified to provide cover for the crew and to protect the ammunition supply from air attack and weather.
Central to the battery’s effectiveness was its fire control system. Target tracking data was gathered by a dedicated SON-30 radar, which continuously measured the range, speed, and altitude of incoming aircraft. This information was fed into an electro-mechanical PUAZO-30 fire control director that computed the precise aiming instructions. The resulting data was then transmitted electrically to each gun’s servo-driven aiming mechanisms, allowing the entire battery to adjust its barrels in unison and unleash a concentrated barrage.
To support this level of coordination, each battery was equipped with its own generator trucks, ensuring that the radar, director, and gun servos had uninterrupted or emergency power even in isolated locations. Ammunition trucks and supply vehicles formed the logistical backbone, delivering shells, propellant charges, fuel, and spare parts as needed. During prolonged engagements or alerts, crews often stayed in dugouts or temporary shelters near their guns to maintain readiness.
SON-30
Spoiler
The SON-30 was the primary radar used to control and direct fire for KS-30 heavy anti-aircraft batteries. Developed in the early Cold War period, it was an evolution of earlier Soviet gun-laying radars and shared design principles with the well-known wartime SCR-584, but with improvements for higher altitude targets and better tracking accuracy. Mounted on a trailer, the SON-30 continuously scanned the sky and locked onto incoming aircraft, providing precise real-time data on range, azimuth, elevation, and target speed. This information was fed directly to the PUAZO-30 fire control director, which calculated the firing solution for the guns. Operators could track targets automatically by radar in most weather conditions, but the radar cabin did not include optical backup. The radar had a maximum detection range of up to 100 kilometers and a reliable tracking range of about 50 kilometers, and it was typically operated by a crew of five. Together with the PUAZO-30, the SON-30 formed the heart of the KS-30 battery’s targeting system, allowing the massive guns to engage high-flying bombers with impressive coordination and accuracy for its time.
PUAZO-30
Spoiler
The PUAZO-30 was the dedicated fire control director developed specifically to work with the KS-30 heavy anti-aircraft gun. As an electro-mechanical analog computer, it was responsible for calculating the exact aiming angles and fuse settings needed to hit fast-moving, high-altitude targets with the large 130 mm shells. It continuously received real-time tracking data from the SON-30 radar, which measured the target’s position, speed, and flight path. On the PUAZO-30, a team of five operators adjusted and monitored the system’s inputs to ensure that the predicted firing solution stayed accurate as the target maneuvered. The PUAZO-30 could calculate firing solutions for targets at slant ranges from zero up to 50,000 meters, with target altitudes ranging between 2,000 and 23,000 meters. It was capable of handling targets moving at speeds of up to approximately 600 meters per second, which is about Mach 1.75 under standard atmospheric conditions. Once computed, the PUAZO-30 automatically sent electrical commands to each KS-30 gun in the battery, synchronizing their traverse, elevation, and fuse setting so that the entire battery could fire in unison at a single aerial threat. To maintain full functionality even if the radar feed failed or in clear weather, the PUAZO-30 was equipped with an optical sight and range-finding equipment, allowing operators to track targets visually as a backup method. This combination of radar input, analog calculation, and precise transmission of firing commands made the PUAZO-30 a vital part of the KS-30 system, ensuring that the heavy guns could deliver concentrated, accurate anti-aircraft fire with minimal delay.
Deployment and Operational Role
Spoiler
As soon as the KS-30 entered service, it was already evident that the system was becoming obsolete. It took nearly two minutes for a shell to reach its maximum altitude, during which even a slow, cumbersome bomber could easily change course and evade the predicted point of impact. Since the shell’s trajectory could not be adjusted once fired, the system’s effectiveness against maneuvering targets was limited. Given these limitations, the introduction of the S-75 surface-to-air missile system was the only practical and logical step to replace the KS-30 and keep pace with rapidly advancing aerial threats. Despite these shortcomings, guns like the KS-19 and KS-30 still represented the pinnacle of anti-aircraft artillery technology of their time, combining powerful calibers, radar-directed fire control, and advanced automation to deliver precise, high-altitude defensive fire before the widespread adoption of guided missile systems.
KS-30 batteries were deployed to guard key strategic targets such as major cities, industrial hubs, and important military installations. For instance, rings of KS-30 batteries were set up to help defend Moscow and Leningrad alongside other medium-caliber guns and early missile sites. The KS-30’s high ceiling made it a credible deterrent against large bombers flying at altitudes that smaller anti-aircraft guns could not reach. By the early 1960s, guided missile systems began to replace heavy guns as the backbone of Soviet air defense.
Despite this shift, the KS-30 did not disappear overnight. Some batteries remained in service as a backup in case missile sites were overwhelmed or depleted. Additionally, the Soviet Union supplied KS-30 guns to allied nations and client states. Eastern Bloc countries like Czechoslovakia received a limited number, and some might have found their way to the Middle East and Asia. As guided missile systems like the SA-2 and more advanced SAM networks became standard, the KS-30 gradually transitioned from an active role to reserve status and storage. By the late Cold War period, only a few countries still maintained operational cannons, likely not even for air defense roles.
Today, surviving KS-30 guns serve as museum exhibits and historical displays, preserving an era when heavy guns and radar-controlled fire directors represented the cutting edge of air defense technology. Military museums in Russia, Eastern Europe, and a few other countries maintain well-preserved examples, often set up with their original radar and fire control equipment to illustrate how these formidable weapons worked in practice. For historians and artillery enthusiasts, the KS-30 stands as a testament to the pinnacle of analog anti-aircraft design, a massive, meticulously engineered machine built for a specific threat that was quickly overtaken by technological leaps in guided missile warfare. It remains a compelling reminder of the transition from big guns to smart missiles in the evolution of modern air defense.
Implementation into War Thunder
Spoiler
Aside from serving as an AI-controlled unit, this weapon system could also be made playable in ground RB in War Thunder. To fit within the DLC framework, the main vehicle would be the AT-T towing the PUAZO-30 director station, which would act as the optical fire control unit for the guns. If positioned correctly, the tractor wouldn’t even need to be unhitched or detached for the system to function. The SON-30 radar could be represented using the same radar aim-assist mechanics that existing SPAAGs have in-game, while the KS-30’s automatic fuse-setting could be simulated by having its shells behave similarly to proximity-fused ammunition. The need for a separate generator could be ignored for gameplay simplicity, or, as a fun detail, a generator trailer could be shown towed behind the PUAZO as part of a road train (It would appear the gun had its own generator/engine).
Hitting potential ground targets could also be entertaining, given the destructive power of a 130 mm high-explosive shell. To allow players to direct multiple guns at ground targets, similar mechanics could be used to those already in place for multi-turreted tanks in War Thunder. This would let the player control the battery as a single unit, switching or synchronizing fire across all deployed KS-30 guns for engaging enemy vehicles on the ground, adding another tactical layer to its gameplay.
If added as an AI unit, this battery could be an excellent asset for defending airbases at lower battle ratings or could be placed at strategic positions on air battle maps, acting as authentic flak guns that fill the sky with bursts of black smoke during engagements.
KS-30 Gun Battery — Full Specifications
Spoiler
Gun: KS-30 Anti-Aircraft Cannon
- Caliber: 130 mm
- Barrel length: 8.4 m (L/65)
- Ammunition: Fixed, separate-loading shell and cartridge
- Shell weight: ~33 kg (HE-FRAG)
- Muzzle velocity: ~970–1,000 m/s
- Max vertical range (ceiling): ~20.8 km
- Time for the shell to reach the ceiling: ~2 minutes
- Max horizontal range: ~27.8 km
- Rate of fire: 12 rpm
- Elevation range: −3° to +80°
- Traverse: 360°
- Crew per gun: 11
- Breech: Horizontal sliding block (semi-automatic)
- Recoil system: Hydro-pneumatic
- Carriage: Two-axle, towed with four stabilizing outriggers
- Fuse setting: Automatic, based on input from fire control system
PUAZO-30 Fire Control Director
- Function: Analog fire control director
- Crew: 5
- Input source: SON-30 radar (automatic) or optical (manual backup)
- Target slant range: 0–50,000 meters
- Target altitude range: 2,000–23,000 meters
- Target speed limit: up to 600 m/s (~Mach 1.75)
- Output: Electrical laying commands and fuse settings to each gun
- Backup system: Optical sight and manual range input
SON-30 Fire Control Radar
- Type: Mobile gun-laying radar
- Detection range: up to 100 km
- Tracking range: ~50 km (reliable)
- Elevation/azimuth tracking: Full coverage
- Crew: 5
- Output: Real-time target coordinates to PUAZO-30
- Optical sighting: None (radar-only system)
Mobility and Towing
- Towing vehicle: AT-T heavy artillery tractor
- Weight (unloaded): ~20 tons
- Towing capacity: >25 tons
- Engine: V-12 diesel, ~415 hp
- Top speed (road): ~35 km/h
- Special features: Integrated winch, tracked suspension, rear cargo deck
- Crew (AT-T): Driver + 2–3 support crew
Battery Composition
- Guns per battery: 4 × KS-30
- Fire control radar: 1 × SON-30
- Director unit: 1 × PUAZO-30
- Power supply: 1 × Generator trailer or truck
- Prime movers: AT-T tractors
- Logistics vehicles: Ammunition trucks, command vehicle, crew transports
- Total crew (battery-level): 50–70 personnel (approx.)
Deployment and Setup
- Site layout: Circular or semi-circular arrangement
- Gun spacing: 30–60 meters (to avoid blast overlap)
- Command center: Bunker or vehicle, linked to radar and director
- Crew shelters: Near each emplacement for prolonged readiness
- Setup time: 1–2 hours (with crew and equipment on site)
- Operational role: Defense of strategic targets — cities, airfields, missile sites