This 30 mm 2A38M twin-barrel automatic cannon is installed in the 2S6M Tunguska self-propelled antiaircraft gun/surface-to-air missile system which is the replacement for the ZSU-23-4 self-propelled antiaircraft gun system.

The 2S6M is armed with two 30 mm 2A38M twin 30 mm cannon and also has eight SA-19 surface-to-air missiles in the ready to launch position.

The 30 mm 2A38M cannon has 16 grooves and fires the same family of ammunition as the 30 mm 2A42 and 2A72 cannon.

The twin 30 mm 2A38M cannon is water cooled and has been designed for operation under all environmental conditions from -50 to +50°C. It has an effective range in the air defence role of 200 to 2,000 m in altitude with a maximum slant range of 4,000 m.

The 30 mm 2A38M cannon was also fitted to the now cancelled Czech Republic/Slovakian Strop (8 x 8) self-propelled air defence system.

More recently the Czech Republic has revealed another similar system called the BRAMS and it is believed that this is also armed with a single twin 30 mm 2A38M cannon.

The 30 mm 2A38M cannon is manufactured by Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company but the design authority is the KBP Instrument Design Bureau.

In production for 2S6M air defence system used by India and Russia.