ZSU-23-4 Shilka Russian 23mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Weapon System
ZSU-23-4
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Basic Information
Name
ZSU-23-4 Shilka Russian 23mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Weapon System
Designation
ZSU-23-4
Alternate Designation
—
Equipment Type
—
Manufacturer
Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant
Date of Introduction
1962
Description
Hezbollah Proliferation. The ZSU-23-4 Shilka (Russian for "Awl") is a fully integrated, self-propelled anti-aircraft system with four liquid-cooled 23-mm AZP-23 automatic cannons mounted on a highly modified PT-76 light tank chassis. It was introduced in the late 1960s and remains in use by Russian forces and former Soviet client states, among others. The system can be fired optically or electronically using its integral Gun Dish fire-control radar, which is mounted on the top of the armored turret. Gun Dish emits a powerful but narrow, beam, which provides good target tracking. In some cases, ZSU-23-4s receive information from long-range acquisition radars to increase their effectiveness. Russian doctrine prescribes field deployment of the ZSU-23-4 complemented by either the SA-6, SA-9, or SA-13 SAM systems for divisional air defense. It was the first Russian air defense gun to mount its own radar.
Ground Specifications
Crew
4
Mobility Type
Tracked
Main Weapon
4 × 23 mm 2A7 autocannons
Engine
6-cylinder 4-stroke airless-injection water-cooled 20-liter diesel (290 hp)
NBC Protection
Yes
Max Speed
50.0 km/h
Range
450.0 km
Variants
ZSU-23-4M
The ZSU-23-4M is the 1977 model and features three (instead of two) access ports on each side of the hull and an armored cover for the guns. It also has a digital computer, improved RPK 2 radar and can be linked to off-carriage radar and fire-control equipment if required. The RPK 2 radar on the ZSU-23-4M is capable of being used independently in the search mode whereas on previous versions it had been slaved to the gun tubes.
ZSU-23-4-M1
Additional modernization of the radar system with modern solid-state components.
ZSU-23-4-M2
Upgrades to targeting equipment such as improved optics and night vision capability.
ZSU-23-4-M3
Version features the Luk IFF system.
ZSU-23-4-M4
Upgrade package replaced obsolete components with new and more efficient units and therefore extend the operational capabilities of the system as well as enhancing its overall operational capabilities. Those subsystems that have not been upgraded are overhauled before being installed on the upgraded ZSU-23-4M4 SPAAG. According to the manufacturer, the ZSU-23-4M4 features improved target tracking, increased kill probability from 0.3 to 0.6 for one fly over, the addition of man-portable SAMs and the addition of 81 mm smoke grenade launchers. It can engage aircraft and helicopters flying at an altitude from 25 to 1,500 m and aerial targets can be engaged out to a range of 2,500 m and with a speed of up to 500 m/s.
System
Alternative Designations
Shilka ZSU 23-4
Manufacturer
Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant
Proliferation
Hezbollah
In Service
1962-Present
Crew
4 ea
Chassis
GM-575 Tracked, six road wheels, no track support rollers
Dimensions
Length
6.54 m
Width
3.3 m
Height
Radar up: 3.75 m | Radar down: 2.60 m
Weight, Combat
20.5 tons
Ground Pressure
INA
Automotive
Engine Name
V6R-1 Diesel
Engine Type
6-cylinder 4-stroke airless-injection water-cooled 20-litre diesel
Engine Power
290 hp
Cruising Range
450 km
Speed, Maximum Road
50 km/h
Speed, Average Cross
35 km/h
Speed Maximum Swim
Not Amphibious
Gradient
60 %
Side Slope
30 %
Vertical Step
1.1 m
Trench
2.8 m
Fording Depth
1.0 m
Communications
Primary
R-123
Digital
Yes
Range
50 km
Main Armament
Name
4 × 23 mm 2A7 autocannons (AZP-23 "Amur" quad automatic anti-aircraft gun
Caliber
23 mm
Cyclic Rate of Fire (rd/min)
850-1,000
Sustained Rate of Fire (rd/min)
400 (in 10-30 rd bursts)
Reload Time
20 min
Elevation
-4° to +85° deg
Fire on the Move
Yes
Reaction Time
12-18 sec
Maximum Slant Range
2 km
Maximum Firing Range
2.5 km
Maximum Elevation
+85 deg
Minumum Elevation
-5 deg
Traverse Range
360 deg
Main Armament Ammunition
Description
Can fire the same ammunition as ZU-23. Best mix for modern versions (ZU-23M and ZU-23M1) is 1,200 APDS-T and 1,200 FAPDS. Rounds ballistically matched. No HEI required.
Type
23x152 HE-I, HEI-T, API-T, TP
Max Effective Range
2,500 m or 2,000 m against light armored ground targets such as LAVs
Max Effective Altitude
1,500 m
Muzzle Velocity
970 m/s
Self-Destruct
11 sec (Average time)
Penetration (mm KE)
19 mm @ 1000 m API-T
HE-I Projectile Weight
0.18 kg
HEI-T Projectile Weight
0.19 kg
API-T Projectile Weight
0.189 kg
TP Projectile Weight
0.18 kg
HE-I Fuze Type
Point detonating
HEI-T Fuze Type
Point detonating
API-T Fuze Type
Base igniting
Basic Load
2,000 ea
Fire Control
Driver Periscope
BMO-190
Driver IR Periscope
INA
Commander Periscope
TPKU-2
Commander IR Periscope
TKH-ITC
IFF
INA
Radar
Sborka (9S80-1 or PPRU-M1) DOG EAR (Target Acquisition)
Detection Range
20 km
Tracking Range
13 km
Frequency Band
J band
RPK-2
Optical-mechanical computing sight and part of FC subsystem.
Chassis
MTLB-U
Range
80 km detection, 35 km tracking ACV links to supported tactical unit nets.
Other Radars
Using the above ACV, if an Integrated Air Defense System (IADS) is available, ZSU-23-4 links indirectly for early warning and target acquisition data from radars.
Other Fire Control
Guns use air watches and forward observers, and are linked to AD nets.
Protection
Hull Armor
Welded steel, up to 15 mm hull
Turret Armor
Welded steel, 9.2 mm (0.36 in) turret
Applique Armor
INA
Explosive Reactive Armor
No
Active Protection System
INA
Mine Clearing
No
Self-Entrenching Blade
No
NBC Protection
Yes
Smoke Equipment
81 mm Smoke Grenade Launcher
Details
Country of Origin
Russia
Category
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
Land > Air Defense > Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
Filter Label
Z
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
6.54 m
Width
3.3 m
Height
3.75 m
Weight
20500 kg
Operators (41)
Russia
Israel
Ukraine
Poland
India
Iran
North Korea
Belarus
Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Congo, Republic of the
Cuba
Ecuador
Egypt
Ethiopia
Georgia
Guinea-Bissau
Hungary
Iraq
Jordan
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Mali
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Nigeria
Peru
Syria
Turkmenistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Non-State Actors
CFE Treaty
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