Editing GP-25 (section)

== Development ==
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| footer            = An [[AK-74]] equipped with an [[airsoft]] replica of the GP-25 grenade launcher.
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The development of a grenade launcher for the AKM assault rifle began in 1966 at the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Arms ([[TsKIB SOO]]). Development continued into the 1970s, and in 1978 it was accepted into service.<ref name=":0" /> The main production version was known as the '''GP-25''', and could be attached to the AKM and AK-74 assault rifles. The '''GP-30''' was made lighter and the aiming system was redesigned and moved to the right.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Popenker |first=Maxim |date=October 28, 2010 |title=GP-25 and GP-30 |url=https://modernfirearms.net/en/grenade-launchers/russia-grenade-launchers/gp-25-i-gp-30-eng/ |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Modern Firearms |language=en}}</ref>

GP grenade launchers are similar in appearance and fire the same Russian 40mm caliber ammunition. At the top of the barrel is the mounting hardware to attach the weapon to the underside of a rifle barrel, from which it is designed to fire. The GP barrel has a useful life of about 400 rounds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GP-25 KASTYOR Under-barrel Grenade Launcher |url=http://www.armaco.bg/en/product/under-barrel-grenade-launchers-c9/gp-25-kastyor-under-barrel-grenade-launcher-p99 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Armaco JSC, Bulgaria |language=en}}</ref>

The GP-30 first entered service in 1989,<ref name=":0" /> and is intended for use with the [[AK-100 (rifle family)|AK-100]] series of assault rifles. The GP-30M is a grenade launcher of simplified model, consisting of a shorter 40mm rifled barrel in front of a basic [[Trigger (firearms)|trigger]] mechanism with minimal hand grip.

The current [[Izhmash]]-made version, the '''GP-34''', has a further-redesigned sighting system located to the right side of the weapon and features the following advantages:
* Reliability: It is designed and tested specifically for the Kalashnikov assault rifles, fits such assault rifles directly without any adaptors or [[hand guard]] dismantling.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=40 mm underbarrel grenade launcher GP-34 |url=http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/gp-34.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728115857/http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/gp-34.shtml |archive-date=2012-07-28 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=Izmash |language=en}}</ref>
* Improved safety: The design prevents a round from moving within or falling out of the barrel, even if the muzzle is pointed down. The GP-34 features an additional mechanism ([[firing pin]] safety lever) to improve safety during loading.<ref name=":1" />

=== Variants ===
<gallery widths="150" heights="100">
File:GP-25 at Tula State Museum of Weapons.jpg|GP-25.
File:GP-30M Interpolitex-2012.jpg|GP-30M.
File:VVday2015 56.jpg|GP-34.
</gallery>

* '''ГП-25''' (''GP-25''), [[GRAU index]]: 6Г15 (''6G15''), nickname «Костёр» (''Kostyor'', "Bonfire")
* '''ГП-30''' (''GP-30''), [[GRAU index]]: 6Г21 (''6G21''), nickname «Обувка» (''Obuvka'', "Shoe")
* '''ГП-34''' (''GP-34''), [[GRAU index]]: 6Г34 (''6G34'')