ZSU-23-4 Shilka

ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"

A ZSU-23-4 on display at the Museum of Russian Military

History

Type Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

Place of origin Soviet Union

Service history

In service 1960–present

Used by See Operators

Wars See Combat history

Production history

Designed 1957–1960

Manufacturer Mytishchi Machine-Building

Plant (MMZ)

Unit cost US$357,000 (export price to Libya,

1972/73)[1]

Produced 1964–1982

No. built About 6,500[2]

Specifications

Mass 19 tonnes[3][4]
Length 6.535 m (21 ft 5.3 in)[3]

Width 3.125 m (10 ft 3.0 in)[3]

Height 2.576 m (8 ft 5.4 in)

3.572 m (11 ft 8.6 in) with radar
elevated[4][5]

Crew 4 (commander, driver, gunner, radar

operator)

Armor Welded steel, 9.2 mm (0.36 in) turret,

up to 15 mm hull

Main 4 × 23 mm 2A7 autocannons (AZP-23

armament "Amur" quad automatic anti-aircraft
gun), ammunition 2,000 rounds

Engine V-6R, 6-cylinder 4-stroke airless-

injection water-cooled 20-litre diesel
280 hp (209 kW) at 2,000 rpm[6]

Power/weight 14.7 hp/tonne (11.0 kW/tonne)

Suspension Individual torsion bar

Ground clearance 375 mm (14.8 in)[3]

Fuel capacity 515 l[7]

Operational 450 km (road), 300 km (off-road)[8]

range

Maximum speed 50 km/h (31 mph) road

30 km/h (19 mph) off-road[8]
 The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored Soviet self-propelled, radar guided anti-
aircraft weapon system (SPAAG).

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
 3Description
 4Weapons and fire control
o 4.1Turret and guns
o 4.2Ammunition
o 4.3Radar
o 4.4Limitations and problems
 5Deployment
 6Variants
o 6.1Soviet Union
o 6.2Russian Federation and Belarus
o 6.3Ukraine
o 6.4Poland
o 6.5Iran
o 6.6India
o 6.7Netherlands
 7Combat history
 8Operators
o 8.1Current operators
o 8.2Former operators
o 8.3Confiscated
 9See also
 10Notes
 11References
 12External links

Etymology[edit]
The acronym "ZSU" stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka (Russian: Зенитная
Самоходная Установка), meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled system"; the "23" signifies the
bore diameter in millimeters; the "4" signifies the number of gun barrels. It is named after
the Shilka River in Russia. Afghan soldiers nicknamed it the "sewing machine" due to the sound
of firing guns. It is also referred to by its nickname of "Zeus", derived from the Russian
acronym.

History[edit]
ZSU-23-4 at Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel.

The previous Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG), the ZSU-57-2, was armed with
two 57 mm autocannons; it was aimed optically using a basic tracking and lead calculating
system. The ZSU-57-2 was not particularly successful despite its very powerful autocannons; it
could only carry 300 rounds (which is in fact not bad considering their large caliber), was
inaccurate as it lacked radar and could not fire while on the move.
The ZPU series armed with 14.5 mm heavy machine guns carried on a towed mount for
stationary, point air defence had a much higher rate of fire. The 23 mm version of this weapon
system was known as the ZU-23-2, a towed mount carrying two 23 mm cannons. However, these
towed or improvised truck-mounted weapons had similar disadvantages.
The development of the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" began in 1957 along with ZSU-37-2 "Yenisei"[9] and
the vehicle was brought into service in 1965, replacing all ZSU-57-2s in air defense units toward
the beginning of the 1970s. The ZSU-23-4 was intended for AA defense of military facilities,
troops, and mechanized columns on the march; originally, the more powerful guns of "Yenisei"
were judged to be effective at covering the inner dead-zone of Soviet surface-to-air
missile systems despite the increased weight of the vehicle, but commonality prevailed. Initially,
tank regiments should have had the anti-aircraft artillery battalion of "Shilka" (consisting of two
batteries, four ZSU-23-4s in each). At the end of the 1960s, one battery was equipped with ZSU-
23-4s and the other with ZSU-57-2s. Motorized rifle and tank regiment standard anti-aircraft
batteries consisted of two platoons later (one platoon was equipped with four ZSU-23-4s and
another with four mobile surface-to-air missile systems 9K31 Strela-1 or 9K35 Strela-10). The
ZSU-23-4 combined a proven radar system, the non-amphibious chassis based on GM-575
tracked vehicle, and four 23 mm autocannons. This delivered a highly effective combination of
mobility with heavy firepower and considerable accuracy. The ZSU-23-4 outclassed
all NATO anti-aircraft guns at the time, and it is still regarded as posing a major threat for low-
flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The system was widely fielded throughout the Warsaw Pact and among other pro-Soviet states.
Around 2,500 ZSU-23-4s, of the total 6,500 produced, were exported to 23 countries. The Soviet
Union's successor states continue to manufacture and supply variants of the ZSU-23-4, notably
the Ukrainian "Donets" and Polish "Biala" variants.
ZSU-23-4 units saw active service in the Yom Kippur War (1973) and other Arab-Israeli
conflicts, the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), and the First Gulf War (1990). During the 1973 Yom
Kippur War, the system was particularly effective against the Israeli Air Force. Israeli pilots
attempting to fly low in order to avoid SA-6 missiles were often shot down by ZSU-23-4s as
in Operation Doogman 5. During the Soviet–Afghan War ZSU-23-4 units were used widely and
to great effect against mujahideen positions in the mountains, the ZSU-23-4's guns being able to
elevate much higher than the weapons on BMPs, BTRs, T-55s, or T-62s.[10] They were also used
to suppress defensive positions around the presidential palace during the initial coup in Kabul at
the start of the Soviet-Afghan war. The Russian Army used the ZSU-23-4 for mountain combat
in Chechnya.

Description[edit]

ZSU-23-4 graphic.

The radar-guided ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" SPAAG, with its four 23 mm (0.90") autocannons, was a
revolutionary SPAAG, proving to be an extremely effective weapon against enemy attack
aircraft and helicopters under every weather and light condition. The ZSU-23-4 has a very high
density, rate and accuracy of fire, as well as the capability for each of the four autocannons to
fire its own type of projectile from separate belts. While it is technically possible that each
cannon shoots different type of ammunition, there were two types commonly used in late 1970s:
OFZT incendiary fragmentation and BZT armour-piercing tracer, which were to be loaded in 3:1
ratio—three OFZT, then one BZT, every 10th BZT round equipped with so-called "copper
remover" and marked. Operators were strongly discouraged from shooting from a single barrel.
The appearance of the "Shilka" caused significant changes in NATO tactics in aircraft use at low
altitude over the battlefield. Despite its present obsolescence as a modern short-range anti-
aircraft weapon, the ZSU-23-4 is still deadly for enemy light armoured vehicles, infantry and
firing points as an infantry-support vehicle. With its high rate of accurate fire, the ZSU-23-4 can
even neutralize tanks by destroying their gun sights, radio antennas, or other vulnerable parts.
[4]
 ZSU-23-4s, especially late models, have excellent performance and good systems reliability.
Based on the GM-575 tracked vehicle chassis, which used components from the PT-76 light
amphibious tank, the ZSU-23-4 mounts an armored turret holding four liquid-cooled 23 mm
(0.9") 2A7 autocannons linked to an RPK-2 "Tobol" radar (NATO designator: "Gun Dish"). The
vehicle weighs 19 tonnes (late modifications up to 21 tonnes), has a movement range of 450 km
(280 mi) and a top speed of 50 km/h (31 mph). Additional firepower of late modifications can be
supplied by a roof-mounted pod of six short-range SA-18 SAMs, or side-mounted SA-16s.
The crew numbers four: driver, commander, gunner and radar operator. The driver's
compartment is located in the nose part of the vehicle. The fighting compartment is in the center,
and the engine compartment is in the rear part of the vehicle.
The transmission consists of a multi-plate metal-contact main clutch, a manual gearbox with five
forward gears, two planetary two-step steering gears with locking frictions and two final drive
groups. The vehicle chassis has six single rubber tired road wheels, a rear drive sprocket with
detachable sprocket rings (lantern-wheel gear) and one idler wheel per side. The first and fifth
left, and sixth right road wheels have hydraulic shock absorbers. The track is 11.904 m long,
382 mm (15") wide and has 93 links.
Because of a large number of different pipes and tubes to detach during maintenance, the repair
procedure for some of the vehicle's mechanisms is hard (for example, replacement or repair of a
starter). The electric drive of an air outlet hatch of a gas turbine engine (part of the vehicle's
electric power supply system) has an inconvenient location (at the bottom of the hull) which
causes overheating and sometimes, jamming of the electric drive. On the other hand, the
construction of the electric power supply system is very reliable. Changing the main engine oil
and coolant is easy, as is replacement of fuel and oil filters, and sections of the air filter.[11]
The ZSU-23-4 can cross vertical obstacles 0.7 m (2.3') high, trenches 2.5 m (8.2') wide, has a 1.0
m (3.3') fording depth and can climb 30° gradients.[12] The ZSU-23-4 has good maneuverability
and cross-country ability, but its diesel engine's power is insufficient for a vehicle of its weight.
As a result, off-road acceleration capabilities are sub-par, and the vehicle lags behind MBTs and
IFVs on up-hill terrain.[11][13]
The ZSU-23-4 is equipped with an NBC system with an air filtration unit, fire-fighting
equipment, TNA-2 navigational system, infrared vision device, R-123 radio set, R-124 intercom
and electric power supply system consisting of a DGChM-1 single-shaft gas turbine engine
(70 hp at 6,000 rpm) and a direct-current generator (which provides 27 V and 54 V direct current
or 220 V 400 Hz alternating current).[14]

Weapons and fire control[edit]

Turret and guns[edit]

Side view of a US Marine Corps ZSU at Camp Pendleton, 1997

Each water-cooled 23 mm 2A7 autocannon has a cyclic rate

of 850–1,000 rounds per minute for a combined rate of fire
of 3,400–4,000 rounds per minute, which gives a continuous
fire time of 30-35 seconds before running out of ammo (not
considering the constraints that limit the practical rate of
fire, such as barrel overheating). The welded turret has a
race ring transplanted from a T-54 medium tank with a
1,840 mm (6') diameter. The 360° rotating turret is fully
stabilised and capable of firing on the move. The turret rotation and autocannon elevation
mechanisms provide very good speed and guidance accuracy. The hydraulically driven aiming
mechanisms have been proven to be very reliable. Manual aim is used against ground targets.
The quad automatic anti-aircraft gun AZP-23 "Amur" has a range of elevation from −4° to +85°.
The GRAU designation for ZSU-23-4 turret with 23 mm (0.9") AZP-23 "Amur" quad automatic
gun is 2A10. An armoured plate inside the turret protects crew members from fire and explosive
gas during intense firing.
Ammunition[edit]

23mm ammunition

Ammunition capacity is 2,000 rounds stowed aboard (520 rounds per each upper autocannon and
480 rounds per each lower autocannon) loaded in 50-round or shorter belts.
The water-cooled 2A7 23mm guns of ZSU-23-4 fire the same 23×152B mm caliber ammunition
as the 2A14 guns of the twin-barrel ZU-23-2 towed gun. While the 23mm Volkov-Yartsev VYa-
23 aircraft gun used in the Second World War era Il-2 Sturmovik also fired ammunition of the
same cartridge case dimensions, the rounds differed in loading and primer, and are thus not
interchangeable with the post-war AA gun ammunition.[15] Compared to the VYa and its
ammunition, the air defence guns have slightly higher muzzle velocity, and explosive rounds
also have slightly larger HE fillings.[16] The VYa ammunition has brass cases, while 2A7/2A14
ammunition has steel cases.[15]
Three main types of 23mm anti-aircraft ammunition were manufactured post-war: API-T, HEI
and HEI-T. In addition to the original Soviet rounds, a number of ammunition manufacturers
have since begun to produce ammunition for what is still a widely used caliber; these include
new ammunition types such as sub-caliber armor-piercing rounds and frangible ammunition. The
following table lists the main characteristics of some of the available 23×152B mm ammunition
used in 23mm AA guns:

Muzzle
Designatio Projectile Bursting
Type Velocity Description
n Weight [g] charge [g]
[m/s]
 Blunt AP steel core, with
incendiary charge inside windshield
cap.[16] Penetration 15 mm RHA at
BZT API 190[16] none 970 1000 m range and 30-degree impact
angle, or 25mm at 400m and 0-
degree impact. Tracer burn time 5
seconds.

HE fragmentation round with nose

OFZ HE 184[16] 19[17] 980[16] fuzes incorporating self-destruct
mechanism.[16]

HE fragmentation round with a

reduced HE charge due to the space
OFZT HE-T 188[16] 13[17] 980[16]
taken by the tracer; tracer burn time
5 seconds.

A Polish sub-caliber armour-

piercing round with tracer.
Penetration 30 mm RHA at 100 m
APDS-T APDS-T 103 none 1220
range and 30-degree impact angle
(from perpendicular), tracer burn
time >2.5 s.

A typical loading of each ammunition belt contains 40 OFZT and 10 BZT rounds.[11] They can be
fired to a maximum horizontal range of 7 km (4.3 mi), and a vertical range of 5.1 km (3.2 mi).
The effective vertical range is 1.5 km (0.93 mi) at a direct range to target of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) and
target speed of 250 m/s (up to 500 m/s if a modern fire control system is used). The usual
autocannon burst consists of 3–10 projectiles and target lead angle is calculated for each burst
(fire without adjustment) by computer.[14] In attacking targets on the ground, its effective range is
around 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The short range of its 23 mm autocannons and relatively low explosive
effect of its small-calibre projectiles mean it is less able to engage threats such as jet attack
aircraft and cruise missiles than modern systems like the 2K22 Tunguska armed with more
powerful 30 mm autocannons and integrated missile armaments. A special 23 mm round with
composite projectiles was developed for a modern variant of SPAAG (ZSU-23-4M4) to be used
against cruise missiles.
Radar[edit]
The RPK-2 "Tobol" a.k.a. 1RL33 radar operates in the Ku band and can detect aircraft up to
20 km (12 mi) away. It has excellent target tracking capability and is relatively hard to detect by
the enemy. However, the radar picks up many false returns (ground clutter) under 60 m (200 ft)
of altitude. The radar antenna is mounted on collapsible supports in the top rear of the turret.
There is an optical alignment sight. The RPK-2 radar proved to have good protection against
enemy passive electronic radar counter-measures. Nevertheless, the radar system of the ZSU-23-
4 has a short detection range during target search, depending on weather conditions (mainly
dependent on rain and snow conditions). It is hard to automatically track the target at ranges less
than 7–8 km (4.3–5.0 mi) because of the high angular speed of the target at close distances. The
radar needs to be reset quite often because of the unstable parameters of electronic cathode-ray
tubes of the target selection system. The absence of an automatic laser range finder requires a
skillful commander and gunner.[18][11]
Limitations and problems[edit]
Early versions of the ZSU-23-4 sometimes had problems with "runaway guns": after prolonged
periods of firing, the guns would get so hot that chambered rounds would "cook off" even if the
operator was not pulling the trigger—discharging the weapon and chambering a new round,
which would then also cook off, and continue to do so. This would sometimes continue until the
entire belt of ammunition had been expended. Overheating barrels could jam and even break
away from the vehicle. The problem resulted from a deficient cooling system and made the early
ZSU-23-4s dangerous even to friendly troops standing nearby if this happened. Despite the fact
that this seldom happened, Soviet operators learned to give these machines a wide berth.(Perrett
1987:100)[12] It was not recommended to perform continuous fire (bursts longer than 15 seconds
without pause) on earlier models until the problem with autocannon reliability and overheating
during intense fire was solved on ZSU-23-4M (welded tubes of coolant outlet were replaced with
flexible pipes). After the autocannon cooling system was improved, the autocannons became
extremely reliable.[11]
The ZSU-23-4 has an 1A7 SRP electro-mechanical fire solution calculator, weighing 180 kg,
that occupies all of the space before the Commander. It contains 60 electric motors driving 110
axles over different potentiometers, shafts, rods, cams, gears and linkages to mechanically
calculate ammunition flight time till impact, elevation lead angle, and azimuth lead angle using
the target parameters received from the 1RL33 RPK-2 (gun dish) radar, and the correction angle
received from the GAG (gyroscope) unit.

Deployment[edit]

ZSU-23-4 at the Museum of The History of Ukraine in World War II.

ZSU-23-4

Soviet doctrine supplied the vehicle since 1965 in

an anti-aircraft artillery battery of two, four-
vehicle platoons for anti-aircraft defence of
motor rifle and tank regiments. At the end of the
1960s one platoon was equipped with ZSU-23-4
SPAAGs while another one was still equipped
with ZSU-57-2 SPAAGs. ZSU-57-2 was
completely replaced with ZSU-23-4 by the
beginning of the 1970s. In the 1970s, Soviet
motor rifle and tank regiments were equipped with an anti-aircraft missile artillery battery
consisting of two platoons, one equipped with four ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs and the other with
four 9K31 Strela-1 (SA-9 Gaskin) or later with four 9K35 Strela-10 (SA-13 Gopher) short-
range surface-to-air missile systems which cover the dead zones of 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful)
surface-to-air missile systems belonging to the divisional level. Since the 1980s Soviet motor
rifle and tank regiments were equipped with an anti-aircraft artillery battalion of three batteries
(one was equipped with ZSU-23-4 or 9K22 Tunguska SPAAGs, the second one was equipped
with 9K35 Strela-10 (SA-13 Gopher) short-range surface-to-air missile systems and the third
battery with 9K38 Igla man-portable surface-to-air missiles on IFVs or APCs.[14]
The ZSU-23-4 is very vulnerable to enemy anti-tank missiles, cannons and heavy machine guns;
the armour is thin (not exceeding 15 mm) and the exposed wheels, tracks, radar, and gun barrels
can easily be damaged in combat. Firing positions of ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs are typically placed
near the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA) but behind the main forces, usually 600–1000 m
behind objectives when on the defensive or 400–600 m behind the leading tanks on the
offensive. ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs are divided evenly along the troop columns on the march.
At first each ZSU-23-4 operated in combat autonomously, without target marking from
regimental or divisional air defence. In 1978, the PPRU-1 (mobile reconnaissance and control
post) was passed into service of the Soviet Army. The PPRU-1 ("Ovod-M-SV") vehicle is based
on MT-LBu armoured tracked chassis and it was intended for control of motor rifle or tank
regimental anti-aircraft unit equipped with ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs and 9K31 "Strela-1M" mobile
surface-to-air missile systems. The PPRU-1 is equipped with "Luk-23" radar and an automatic
fire control system associated with the divisional air defence system.
The guns are useful against low-flying aircraft and lightly protected ground targets. Due to its
effectiveness against ground targets, ZSU-23-4s have been used in urban environments
(e.g., Afghanistan, Abkhazia, Chechnya, Syria and Lebanon). This is primarily because the guns
can elevate much higher than a tank or APC cannon, enabling armored units equipped with ZSU-
23-4s to return fire against ambushes from above.
A small number of ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs are still in use by the Russian Naval Infantry
(specifically the 61st and 175th brigades of the Northern Fleet and the 336th brigade of the Baltic
Fleet).

Variants[edit]
Soviet Union[edit]

 ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" (1964): pre-production and then initial production models.

 ZSU-23-4V "Shilka" (1968): modernized variant with enhanced reliability of some
details, ventilation system case located on the hull. Commander vision device was added.
 ZSU-23-4V1 "Shilka" (1970): modernized variant with enhanced reliability of radar
system and other details, ventilation system cases located on front bilges of the turret.
Guidance-system computer was improved (as well as accuracy and efficiency of anti-aircraft
fire on the move at 40 km/h). It is fitted with a slightly improved diesel engine V-6R-1.
 ZSU-23-4M1 (1973): armed with modernized autocannons 2A7M. The pneumatic
loading was replaced with pyrotechnic loading (unreliable compressor was removed),
welded tubes of coolant outlet were replaced with flexible pipes which increased autocannon
barrel life from 3500 rounds to 4500 rounds.
 ZSU-23-4M3 "Biryusa" (1977): equipped with identification friend-or-foe system
"Luk". All ZSU-23-4M were upgraded to ZSU-23-4M3 level during scheduled repairs. Army
unofficially continued to use the name "Shilka" for all variants of ZSU-23-4.
 ZSU-23-4M2 (1978): so-called "Afghan" variant. Reequipment performed during
the Soviet–Afghan War for mountain combat. The radar system was removed and a night-
sight was added. Ammunition increased from 2,000 to 4,000 rounds.
Russian Federation and Belarus[edit]

 ZSU-23-4M4 and ZSU-23-4M5 (1999): modernized variants, armed with two additional

paired "Igla" man-portable air-defense systems on each side of the turret and equipped with
81mm smoke grenade launchers, laser emission sensors, electro-optical vision devices
(including television system for driver) and improved weapon radar system. The mechanical
transmission was replaced with hydrostatic transmission, and hydraulic boosters were
installed. Mobility increased to the level of main battle tanks. This upgrade was first shown
during the MAKS-99 exhibition in Zhukovsky and was carried out by the Minotor Service
Enterprise and Peleng Joint Stock Company from the Republic of Belarus, and
the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant of Russia. The Ulyanovsk Mechancial Plant is also offering
ZSU-23-4 upgrade packages independently.[19][20][21]
Ukraine[edit]

 Donets (1999): This is a Ukrainian modernization developed by Malyshev Tank

Factory in Kharkov. It has the modified turret from the ZSU-23-4, armed with two additional
paired man-portable air-defense systems "Strela-10" installed on the hull of the T-
80UD main battle tank. Ammunition capacity for its 23 mm autocannons is doubled.
 ZSU-23-4M-A (2017): A modernisation package developed by the Arsenal Factory in
Kyiv, this system features a new Rokach-AS radar, laser rangefinder, and four
automatic Igla missiles.[22]
Poland[edit]

 ZSU-23-4MP Biała (2000): Polish modernized upgrade with 4 Grom surface-to-air

missiles and fully digital passive aiming devices instead of the radar.[23][24]
Iran[edit]

 ZSU-23-4 Soheil :Iranian upgrade with 4 Misagh-2 surface-to-air missiles. Not much is

known about it outside of its name and armament. An additional box of unknown use is
visible on the rear of the turret.
India[edit]

 ZSU-23-4 upgrade: This version was developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) of

India in cooperation with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI). These Anti Aircraft Tanks(AAT)
were first used in the Indo-Pak War of 1971. These proved to be effective against Pakistani
Mirage-III's. The upgraded systems will feature an advanced 3D active phased array
radar[25] and computers, electro-optical fire control systems, a new Caterpillar 359 BHP diesel
engine and a new APU. The upgraded systems are able to operate despite enemy jamming,
are able to pick up targets from more than 15 km away, and functions in temperatures
between 55° Celsius and minus 40° Celsius. The gun is able to shoot down targets flying at
450 miles per hour up to 1,500 meters and out to 2,500 meters. The purpose of the upgrade is
to extend the life of the air defence system by 15 years. In December 2004 it was reported
that the Indian Army awarded a US$104 million contract to upgrade 48 ZSU-23-4 air
defence systems of the Indian Army.[26][27]
Netherlands[edit]

 ZSU-23-4 upgrade (1998): As a private venture, Hollandse Signaalapparaten company

(now Thales Nederland) of the Netherlands, obtained a number of ex-East German
Army ZSU-23-4V1s and developed an upgrade package. The main part of this upgrade is the
modernisation of the radar and fire-control system. The first prototype was completed in
mid-1998. The upgraded vehicle is equipped with the ASADS Ka-band target tracking radar
and the PAGE I-band surveillance radar.[28]