The 30 mm 2A72 dual-feed cannon fires the same family of ammunition as the 30 mm 2A42 cannon installed in the BMP-2 but has a significant reduction in the number of parts. The 2A42 has 578 parts whereas the 2A72 has only 349 parts.

There are two known production applications of the 2A72 automatic cannon, the BMP-3 ICV (two-man turret) and the BTR-80A (8 x 8) APC (one-man turret).

The Pantzyr-S1 self-propelled air defence system is armed with two 2A72 automatic cannon and two banks of six SAMs in the ready to fire position. This system is still at the prototype stage and was first shown in public in 1995.

More recently the 30 mm 2A72 automatic cannon has been fitted to the KBP one-man Kliver turret which has been developed to the prototype stage. Full details of this turret are given in the AFV turrets and cupolas section.

Fortrial purposes this turret has been fitted onto the BMP-1 and BTR-80 series chassis and is now being offered for installation on Western tracked and wheeled armoured vehicle chassis as well.

Effective range against armoured targets is claimed to be 1,500 m while lightly armoured targets can be engaged out to 2,000 m and helicopters out to 4,000 m.

The 30 mm 2A72 cannon fires two types of ammunition, AP-T and HE-I.

The design authority for the 30 mm 2A72 cannon is the KBP Instrument Design Bureau with the weapon being manufactured by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company.

Production. Installed in the BMP-3 ICV and BTR-80A (8 x 8) APC and installed in the prototype of the Pantzyr-S1 air defence system and the prototype of the Kliver one-man turret.