Anti-aircraft installation Shilka. "Shilka" - anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery mount (10 photos). Machines based

03.05.2020

In September 1962, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, an all-weather self-propelled 23-mm artillery anti-aircraft system (self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" (complex 2A6) was adopted for arming the air defense of the Ground Forces). ZSU "Shilka" was intended to provide air defense units motorized rifle (tank) regiments in various combat conditions, including on the march, at different times of the year and day, in any weather.The main characteristics of the "Shilka" and its foreign analogue are given in the table.The main developer of the installation was the design bureau of the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant (chief designer N.A. Astrov).

It is interesting to note that at the final stage of the development of the Shilka ZSU, clouds hung over its fate. This is how the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper of September 12, 1992 describes it in the article “The proud secret of Almaz (telling for the first time)”. The fact is that in March 1961, state tests of the S-125 Neva anti-aircraft missile system developed by Design Bureau No. 1 (now the Almaz Research and Production Association) were successfully completed. The S-125 air defense system being developed was intended to combat low-flying air targets flying at altitudes of 200 meters and above at a distance of up to 10 km.

This served as the basis for ambiguous assessments of the need to complete the development of an anti-aircraft artillery system (ZSU "Shilka"), also designed to combat low-flying targets. In particular, in the governing bodies of the country, which at that time determined the prospects for the development of domestic weapons, a draft decision was prepared to stop the development of the Shilka ZSU. When this decision was shown to the general designer of the S-125 air defense system, Academician A.A. Raspletin, he wrote on this document: “... Strongly against. ZSU can perform tasks in parallel with the S-125 air defense system. Work on the creation of the Shilka ZSU continued, and in 1962 it was put into service.

Since then, for many years, the S-125 air defense system and the Shilka ZSU have participated in real hostilities on different continents, have been operated by the troops, are still in service with the armies of many countries of the world, and have been repeatedly modernized. And almost forty years later, their last (in terms of time) modifications met at the international aerospace shows MAKS-99 and MAKS-2001, which were held in the city of Zhukovsky near Moscow. Words by Academician A.A. The scatter turned out to be prophetic: the S-125 air defense system, the Shilka ZSU and their modifications have been regularly serving in the military for almost half a century.

"Shilka" was the first self-propelled gun in the history of the development of domestic anti-aircraft weapons, which could effectively fire at air targets on the move. This quality was ensured by the presence of gyro stabilization along the line of sight and shot. The installation could also fire at ground targets, including lightly armored ones. ZSU-23-4 replaced the towed small-caliber anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft guns used in motorized rifle and tank regiments.

The following organizations participated in the development of the main elements and components of the ZSU-23-4:

OKB-40 of the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant of the Ministry of Transport Engineering of the USSR - the lead developer of the ZSU as a whole and the developer of the tracked chassis (the chief designer of the installation as a whole is N.A. Astrov);
Leningrad Optical and Mechanical Association - developer of a radio instrument complex (RPK-2 "Tobol"), consisting of a tracking radar, a calculating device and optical means (the chief designer of the RPK is V.E. Pikkel);
the design bureau of the Tula plant of radioelements (later the Research Institute "Strela" of the Ministry of Radio Industry of the USSR) - the developer of the tracking radar (chief designer of the radar - Ya.I. Nazarov);
Central Design Research Bureau of Sports Small Arms (Tula) - developer of a quadruple 23-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun;
All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Electromechanical Instruments of the USSR Ministry of Electrical Industry - developer of electrical equipment for the power supply system of ZSU and electric motors for drives;
the Automotive Research Institute and the Kaluga Experimental Motor Plant of the USSR Ministry of the Automotive Industry are the developers of a gas turbine engine for the power supply system.

The composition of the ZSU "Shilka" includes the following elements:

23-mm quadruple automatic anti-aircraft gun (AZP-23-4) with ammunition;
radio instrument complex (RPK);
electrohydraulic power servo drives;
day and night observation devices;
means of communication.

All of the above ZSU equipment was placed on a tracked chassis with high cross-country ability. The combat operation of the anti-aircraft installation under all weather conditions was provided by a radio instrument complex, consisting of: a gun-guided radar, a calculating device and a sighting device. The radar made it possible to detect an air target in a circular or sector (within 30–80 degrees) search in azimuth and simultaneous search in elevation (within 30 degrees). Target capture was possible at ranges of at least 10 km at a flight altitude of 2000 m and at least 6 km at a flight altitude of 50 m. advance data for aiming guns at a predetermined point using hydraulic power drives.

ZSU-23-4 ensured the defeat of air targets flying at speeds up to 450 m / s, in a circular firing zone in range - up to 2500 m, in height - up to 2000 m. The AZP-23-4 anti-aircraft gun had a rate of fire of up to 4000 rounds per minute, ammunition installation - 2000 rounds. ZSU-23-4 was in service with motorized rifle (tank) regiments. It was part of an anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery, which consisted of two platoons: a platoon of the Strela-1 air defense system and a platoon of the Shilka ZSU, and later - a part of the anti-aircraft battery (six ZSU) of the anti-aircraft battalion of a motorized rifle (tank) regiment. The battery was controlled by the air defense chief of the regiment through the automated control post PU-12 (PU-12M). Commands, orders and target designation data were received by the ZSU using radio stations installed at the command post and combat vehicles. "Shilka" could be used not only to cover the units of the regiment from attacks by an air enemy operating at low and extremely low altitudes, but also to fight a ground enemy, including lightly armored targets.

It should be noted that simultaneously with the development of the ZSU-23-4, the design of an installation equipped with a twin 37-mm gun (ZSU-37-2 "Yenisei") was going on. The creation of this sample was entrusted to NII-20 of the USSR State Committee for Radio Electronics. For fire control, the Baikal radio-instrument complex was developed. Tests of prototypes of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns ZSU-23-4 and ZSU-37-2 were carried out at the Donguz test site in 1961. As a result of the tests, the ZSU-37-2 was not recommended for adoption due to the low survivability of guns and the lack of reliability of guns in general. It was also planned to install a 37-mm Shkval quad assault rifle on the Yenisei, which was not put into service due to low reliability.

The closest foreign analogue of the ZSU-23-4 in the 1960s was the American 20-mm six-barreled installation M163 ("Volcano"). It consisted of a 20-mm Vulkan six-barrel gun and fire control equipment, located on the basis of the M113A1 tracked armored personnel carrier. The fire control system included: a gyro-stabilized sight with a calculating device, a radar rangefinder and sighting devices. "Shilka" was in service with the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as many states of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In combat conditions, it was used in the Arab-Israeli wars in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the Syrian army, batteries armed with the Shilka ZSU were part of the anti-aircraft divisions of tank divisions and individual tank brigades, and were also used to cover the batteries of the Kub (Square) air defense system. During the fighting, when repelling Israeli air raids, the Shilki operated autonomously. Fire on aircraft was opened from a range of 1500-2000 meters, as a rule, upon visual detection of an air target. However, it should be noted that radars were practically not used in combat conditions for a number of reasons. Firstly, the fighting was carried out mainly on rough terrain, including mountainous, where the terrain did not allow to fully realize the capabilities of the radar to detect air targets (the line-of-sight range was short). Secondly, the Syrian combat crews were not sufficiently prepared to work on complex equipment and the use of radars preferred visual detection of air targets. Thirdly, radar installations have limited search capabilities without preliminary target designation, which was absent in those conditions. Nevertheless, as the experience of hostilities has shown, the Shilka ZSU turned out to be quite an effective tool, especially for combating suddenly appearing low-flying air targets. The combat effectiveness of the ZSU-23-4 in these military conflicts was 0.15–0.18 per unit. At the same time, from 3300 to 5700 shells were taken for each downed air target. During October 1973, out of 98 aircraft shot down by Syrian air defense systems (ZRK Kvadrat, MANPADS Strela-2M, ZSU Shilka), ZSU accounted for 11. In April-May 1974, out of 19 shot down, the share of Shilok ” amounted to 5 aircraft. In addition, the ZSU-23-4 proved to be a highly maneuverable vehicle with good maneuverability in desert and mountainous terrain.

"Shilka" was widely used in combat operations in Afghanistan. However, here it was used not as an anti-aircraft weapon, but as a highly effective weapon to destroy ground targets. In this regard, it should be noted that the ZSU fire, in addition to the actual combat effect (fire destruction of objects, including lightly armored ones), also had a strong psychological impact on the enemy. A sea of fire and a flurry of fragments created by the firing of a rapid-fire anti-aircraft gun often caused panic in the enemy and led to a temporary loss of combat capability.

After the ZSU-23-4 was adopted by the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces (in 1962), this complex went through several upgrades. The first was carried out in 1968-1969, as a result of which the operational and ergonomic characteristics of the installation were improved, the living conditions for the calculation were improved, and the resource of the gas turbine unit was increased (from 300 to 450 hours). To guide the tracking radar to a visually detected air target, a commander's guidance device was introduced. The upgraded installation was named ZSU-23-4V.

Further modernization of the ZSU was carried out in the direction of improving the calculating device and increasing the reliability of the electronic equipment. The resource of the gas turbine unit was also increased from 450 to 600 hours. ZSU with these improvements received the name ZSU-23-4V1. The next modernization of the installation, carried out in 1971-1972, ensured an increase in the survivability of cannon barrels (from 3000 to 4500 shots), the resource of the gas turbine unit was also increased (from 600 to 900 hours). In 1977-1978, Shilka was equipped with the Luk interrogator of the friend-or-foe radar identification system for air targets. This modification was named ZSU-23-4M3.

The next modernization (1978–1979) was aimed at reorienting the installation to combat ground targets in any combat conditions. For this purpose, the radio instrument complex and associated equipment were removed from the installation housing. Due to this, the transportable ammunition load was increased (from 2,000 to 3,000 rounds), and night vision equipment was introduced, which makes it possible to fire at ground targets at night. This option was named ZSU-23-4M2.

Many years of experience in the operation and combat use of the Shilka ZSU showed its certain shortcomings:

a small zone of effective shelling of air targets;
insufficient projectile power to hit new types of targets;
passing air targets unfired due to the impossibility of their timely detection by their own means.

Based on a generalization of the operating experience and combat use of ZSU, it was concluded that a new complex of this class should be as autonomous as possible, provide independent detection of low-flying targets using its own detection tools, and have more long-range weapons to destroy aircraft and helicopters. In order to expand the zone of fire of air targets (ensure the defeat to the line of use of airborne weapons by them at covered objects), it was considered expedient to put additional missile weapons on the ZSU with an optical sighting and radio control system for missiles. As a result of the analysis of these conclusions, the requirements for a new complex of this type were formed. They became the Tunguska anti-aircraft gun-missile system.

At the same time, life has shown that the modernization potential of the ZSU-23-4, which was put into service back in 1962, has not yet been exhausted. So, at the international aerospace show MAKS-99, held in the city of Zhukovsky near Moscow in August 1999, a new installation (ZSU-23-4M5) was presented. As a result of this modification, the Shilka turned into a cannon-missile system, since in addition to the standard cannon armament, the Strela-2 anti-aircraft guided missiles were installed on the combat vehicle.

It should be noted that there are two options for such an upgrade: "Shilka-M4" (with a traditional radar control system) and "Shilka-M5" (with a radar and optical-location control system). The main enterprises for the modernization of the ZSU "Shilka" are the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant" and the Minsk company "Minotor-service". In the course of these upgrades, the ZSU equipment was transferred to a new element base, which has improved operational, weight and size characteristics and lower power consumption.

Optical-location system ZSU "Shilka-M5" provides search, detection, automatic and semi-automatic tracking of air targets. The company "Minotor-service" provided the modernization of the chassis and power plant. By changing the layout of the engine compartment, it was possible to place an auxiliary diesel engine that provides electricity in the parking lot. As a result, there is no power take-off from the main engine and its resource is not consumed. The ergonomic characteristics of the ZSU have been significantly improved: instead of traditional control levers, a motorcycle-type steering column has been installed. Improved overview of the environment, which is carried out using a video camera. This ensures driving the car and maneuvering in reverse in combat conditions. In order to increase the survivability of the installation, its thermal visibility has been reduced, for which the most heated elements of the hull (engine compartment, exhaust pipes) are covered with heat-absorbing material. Sensors are installed on the body that record the irradiation of the machine with a laser beam. The signals coming from such sensors are used to generate commands for shooting smoke grenades in the direction of the radiation source in order to disrupt the guidance of ATGMs with laser guidance systems. To increase the safety of the crew, seats with increased mine resistance are installed.

It is interesting to note that the waves of political transformations that shook our country at the end of the 20th century (the collapse of the USSR, the formation of independent states with their own armies in its place, etc.) reached the long-lived complex ZSU-23-4. In Ukraine, in the late 1990s, on the basis of "Shilka" at the Kharkov Tractor Plant. Malyshev developed the Donets missile and artillery complex. It uses the main elements of the following types of Soviet military equipment: the ZSU-23-4 Shilka turret, Strela-10SV short-range air defense missiles, and the chassis of the T-80UD tank.

A distinctive feature of this complex is that on the sides of the tower with four 23-mm guns, two twin launchers with Strela-10SV air defense missiles are installed. Artillery weapons ensure the defeat of air targets at a distance of up to 2.5 km at a height of up to 2 km, missiles - at a distance of up to 4.5 km at a height of up to 3.5 km. Cannon ammo load increased to 4000 rounds.

The complex has equipment that provides reception of target designation from external sources. Changes were also made to the chassis - an APU appeared, which ensures the operation of the equipment of the combat vehicle in the parking lot with the main engine turned off. Crew - three people, weight - 35 tons. Organizationally, the anti-aircraft missile battery includes six Donets combat vehicles and one control vehicle on the chassis of the T-80 tank. It has a three-coordinate detection radar. When creating the complex, it was assumed that it would be exported to countries that had previously purchased tanks made in Kharkov. In particular, Pakistan, which purchased 320 T-80UD tanks from Ukraine.

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23-mm anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery mount ZSU-23-4 (2A6) "Shilka"

Weapons models developed by Soviet specialists have repeatedly become the best in the world. This also applies to air defense systems, although for quite a long time the armed forces of the USSR did not have an effective self-propelled anti-aircraft system that was not related to missiles.

The experience of the Great Patriotic War and the development of electronics and technology led to the birth of the "Shilka", ZSU - which became a legend immediately after being put into service.

Birth of a legend

The Second World War showed the danger of ground attack aircraft. Not a single army in the world could provide reliable cover for equipment and infantry from attacks by attack aircraft and dive bombers, especially on marches. The German army suffered the most. Oerlikons and FLAKs could not cope with the massive raids by American ground attack aircraft and Soviet "flying tanks" Il-2, especially at the end of the war.

To protect infantry and tanks, the Wirbelwind, ("Tornado"), Kugelblitz, ("Ball Lightning") and several other models were created. Two 30-mm guns, firing 850 rounds per minute, and a radar system were pioneers in the development of ZSU, several years ahead of their time. Of course, they could no longer make a radical change in the course of the war, but the experience of their use formed the basis of post-war developments in the field of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

In 1947, the designers of the country of the Soviets began active development of a prototype ZSU-57-2, but this machine was outdated even before it was born. 2 57-mm guns, reloaded with clips, had a low rate of fire, and the lack of radar systems made the design virtually blind.

The open tower did not inspire confidence in terms of crew protection, so the issue of modernization was very acute. Oil was added to the fire by the Americans, who deeply studied the German experience with the Molniya models and created their own ZSAU M42 with the latest technology.

1957 was marked by the beginning of work on the creation of new systems of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

There were originally to be two. The four-barreled "Shilka" was intended to support infantry in battle and on the march, the double-barreled "Yenisei" was supposed to cover tank units. Field tests began in 1960, during which no clear leader was identified. "Yenisei" had a long range, shooting down targets at an altitude of 3000 meters.

"Shilka" twice surpassed the competitor in shooting at targets at low altitude, but not higher than 1500 meters. The army authorities decided that the second option was a priority, and in 1962 a decree was issued on its adoption.

Installation design

Prototypes, even during the creation of the model, were made on the chassis of self-propelled guns ASU-85 and experimental SU-100P. The body is welded, well protected from bullets and shrapnel. The structure is divided into three parts.

A diesel power unit is located in the stern, in the middle is the warhead, and in the head control compartment.

On the right side of the board there are 3 rectangular hatches in a row. Thanks to them, access to the technical units in the car is possible, their repair and replacement. Service is carried out by a crew of 4 people. In addition to the usual ones - the driver and commander, this includes the range operator and the senior radio receiver corps.

The turret of the vehicle is flat and wide, in the center of which there are 4 barrels of the AZP-23 gun of 23 mm caliber, named after the tradition of the entire line of weapons - "Cupid". Automation is based on the principle of removal of powder gases. The barrels are equipped with a cooling system and a flame arrester.

Cartridges are fed from the side, in a belt way, pneumatics provide cocking of anti-aircraft guns. The tower has an instrument compartment, with radar equipment that provides search and capture of targets within a radius of 18 kilometers. Guidance is provided hydraulically or mechanically. In a minute, the machine can fire 3400 shots.

radar is carried out thanks to several devices;
tube radar;
vizier;
calculating instrument of analog type;
stabilization systems.

Communication is provided by the R-123M radio station, the TPU-4 intercom operates inside the vehicle. The power plant is a drawback of the whole design. The motor has insufficient power for a 19-ton colossus. Because of this, "Shilka" has low maneuverability and speed.

Flaws in the placement of the motor led to problems with the repair.

To change some nodes, mechanics had to disassemble half of the power plant and drain all the technical fluids. The move is provided, as on most tracked vehicles, by a pair of drive wheels and a pair of guide wheels.

The movement is made with the help of 12 rubber-coated rollers. Suspension independent, torsion type. Fuel tanks hold 515 liters of diesel fuel, which is enough for 400 km.

Comparative characteristics of "Shilka"

The car in question was not the first in the world and far from the only one. The American analogues were ready faster than the Soviet models, but the speed affected the quality and combat characteristics.

Subsequent samples, having approximately the same characteristics as the Shilka, were not up to par during operation.

Let's take the Soviet "Shilka" and its direct competitor ZSU / M163, which was in service with the American army.

According to the characteristics, both vehicles had similar parameters, however, the Soviet model had a higher rate of fire and fire density, creating a fire barrage due to 4 spaced barrels, larger in area than the American counterpart.

The fact of a small series of the American device speaks for itself, as well as its removal from service and comparative unpopularity among buyers from other countries.

The Soviet model is still in service in 39 countries of the world, although more advanced models have taken its place.

Samples of the Shilok captured from the allies of the USSR served as the basis for the West German analogue of the Leopard, as well as many ideas for modernization.

Of particular note is the reliability of combat vehicle components. According to the analysis of memories of operation, especially in field comparative tests, Western models were reliable in operation, but the Shilka still broke down less.

Machine modifications

New technologies, long service life and several cases of sample capture by NATO countries and their allies paved the way for the modernization of the machine. The most famous and massive cars leading the pedigree from "Shilka":

ZSU-23-4V, modernization that increased the reliability of the installation and increased the resource of the gas turbine apparatus by 150 hours;
ZSU-23-4V1, modernization of the previous machine, which increased the accuracy of fire and the reliability of target tracking on the move;
ZSU-23-4M1, improved reliability of barrels, radar and overall stability of the vehicle;
ZSU-23-4M2, modernization for fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan, equipment for combating aircraft was removed, armor and ammunition were added;
ZSU-23-4M3 "Turquoise", which received a recognition system "friend or foe" called "Ray";
ZSU-23-4M4 "Shilka-M4", a deep modernization, as a result of which almost all electronic filling was replaced with new developments, new systems were added for more efficient use;
ZSU-23-4M5 "Shilka-M5", which received a new electronic fire control system.

There were also upgrades to the machine for launching guided missiles. Since Shilka can shoot down aircraft at low altitude, rocket models corrected this feature.

The missiles used on such models are the "Cube" and its modifications.

"Shilka" in combat

For the first time, an anti-aircraft gun took part in the battles in Vietnam. The new system was an unpleasant surprise for American pilots. The high density of fire and ammunition exploding in the air made it almost impossible to escape from the shelling of the Shilok.

New systems took an active part in a series of Arab-Israeli wars. During the 1973 conflict alone, Egyptian and Syrian vehicles shot down 27 IDF Skyhawks. In search of a tactical solution to the problem of shelling "Shilka", Israeli pilots went to high altitude, but there they fell into the zone of destruction of missiles.

Shilki played a huge role during the war in Afghanistan.

According to the charter, vehicles must accompany the columns at a distance of approximately 400 meters from other vehicles. The war in the mountains has made its own adjustments to tactics. Mozhdheads did not have aviation, so the crews did not worry about the sky. When attacking columns, the Shilka played the role of one of the main deterrents.

Thanks to the 4th 23-mm barrels, the Shilka became the best assistant to the infantry in case of unexpected attacks. The density and efficiency of fire immediately crossed out all the shortcomings of the undercarriage. The infantry prayed to the ZSU. The angle of the barrels made it possible to shoot almost vertically, and the powerful cartridge did not take into account the fortifications such as clay walls in the villages. The turn of "Shilka" turned the Mujahideen together with the shelter into a homogeneous mass. For these qualities, the "spirits" nicknamed the Soviet ZSU "shaitan-arba", translated as a damn cart.

But the main task was still air cover. The samples of "Shilok" obtained by the Americans were comprehensively studied, as a result, aircraft with more impressive armor protection appeared. To combat them, Soviet designers in the 1980s carried out a deep modernization of the ZSU in question. Simply changing the guns to more powerful ones was not enough; many important structural components had to be replaced. Thus was born "Tunguska", faithfully serving in the army to this day.

After the advent of new machines, Shilka was not forgotten. 39 countries put it into service.

Almost no conflict of the second half of the twentieth century could do without the use of this machine.

It happened that "Shilki" found themselves on opposite sides of the barricades, fighting with each other.

For the Soviet military, the appearance of "Shilok" was a real revolution. The deployment of traditional batteries often evoked dread and dread in officers and men due to the many actions required to competently protect the sky. The new ZSU made it possible to protect the airspace on the move, with minimal preliminary preparation. High performance, relevant even by modern standards, made the car a legend, almost immediately after birth.

Video

ZSU-23-4 "Shilka", GRAU index - 2A6 - is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun manufactured in the USSR, whose serial production started in 1964. Fires at a rate of 3400 rounds per minute. Targeting is carried out in automatic, semi-automatic and manual modes. In the first two, a radar station is used.

The functionality is to eliminate air targets at altitudes up to 1.5 km and ranges up to 2.5 km, the speed of which is up to 450 m / s and surface (ground) targets located at a distance of up to 2 km from a short stop, from a place and in move. It is also used for direct cover of ground troops. During the Soviet Union, it was in service with the air defense units of the ground forces of the regimental level.

Potential opponents of the USSR noticed its great danger in relation to low-flying targets. But today this ZSU is already outdated, mainly in terms of characteristics, a fairly short range of fire against air targets and the capabilities of a radar station. For the purpose of replacement, the self-propelled ZRPK "Tunguska" subsequently appeared. Nevertheless, "Shilka" today is still in anti-aircraft units in the armies of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and other states and is successfully used in local conflicts to fire at ground targets.

1. Photos

2. Video

3. History of creation

The debut Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was the ZSU-57-2, the serial production of which started either in 1955 or in 1957. She had a very low combat effectiveness, and had only a low rate of fire, a manual optical guidance system and its low speed. Therefore, she could not shoot down high-speed jets flying at low altitudes. For these reasons, immediately after it began to be produced, two new rapid-fire installations with automatic radar guidance systems began to be developed. These are the ZSU-37-2 Yenisei with a twin 500P gun mount of 37 mm caliber and the ZSU-23-4 Shilka with a quad 2A7 gun mount of 23 mm caliber. In addition, each of them was equipped with a radar guidance system and chassis. For the Yenisei, it was the Baikal RPK and the chassis from the SU-100P self-propelled guns, and for Shilka the Tobol RPK and the chassis from the ACS-85 self-propelled guns. As for the use: the Yenisei had the task of providing air defense for the armored forces, and the Shilka had the task of motorized rifle units.

Their prototypes were produced at the end of 1960, ten months later state and factory tests were completed. Shilka was taken into service in the autumn of 1962. Its advantages over the Yenisei in the effectiveness of firing at high-speed targets at altitudes of 0.2-0.5 km were revealed, but the Yenisei turned out to be better in terms of the maximum height of effective shooting. Its mass was 28,000 kg, and Shilki - 19,000, but their cost was almost the same. Since none of the systems turned out to be better than each other, they were both recommended for adoption, but the Council of Ministers of the USSR made a corresponding decision only about Shilka, and work on the Yenisei was stopped.

4. Tactical and technical characteristics

4.1 Dimensions

Case length, cm: 649.5
Hull width, cm: 307.5
Height, cm: 264.4-376.4
Base, cm: 382.8
Track, cm: 250
Ground clearance, cm: 40.

4.2 Booking

Type of armor: rolled steel bulletproof (0.9 - 1.5 cm).

4.3 Armament

Brand and caliber of the gun: four AZP-23 "Amur", caliber 23 mm
Gun type: small-caliber rifled automatic guns
Barrel length, calibers: 82
Gun ammunition: 2000
Angles HV, degrees: −4…+85°
GN angles, degrees: 360°
Firing range, m: 200 - 500
Sights: RPK-2 radar, optical sight.

4.4 Mobility

Engine type: V-6R
Engine power, l. p.: 280
Highway speed, km/h: 50
Cross-country speed, km/h: up to 30
Power reserve on the highway, km: 450
Power reserve over rough terrain, km: 300
Specific power, l. s./t: 14.7
Suspension type: individual torsion bar
Climbability, degrees: 30°
Overcoming wall, cm: 70
Crossable ditch, cm: 250
Crossable ford, cm: 100.

4.5 Other parameters

Classification: self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Combat weight, kg: 21000
Layout scheme: classic
Crew, people: 4

5. Modifications

ZSU-23-4V - modernization. The resource of the gas turbine unit has been increased from 300 to 450 hours and the reliability of operation. The conditions for the crew have become better. In order to guide the tracking radar station to the target, a commander's guidance device was used.
ZSU-23-4V1 - ZSU-23-4V was supplemented with a calculating device, due to which the reliability of auto-tracking of the target increased with an increase in installation speed to 40 km / h, there was an increase in the efficiency and accuracy of fire, as well as the resource of the gas turbine unit up to 600 h .
ZSU-23-4M1 - modernization of the 2A10 gun to 2A7M and 2A10M and 2A7 assault rifles to increase the stability and reliability of the complex. Increased barrel survivability - up to 4500 shots. The reliability of the radar station has improved, the resource of the gas turbine unit has increased to 900 hours.
ZSU-23-4M2 - upgraded ZSU-23-4M1, for operation in Afghanistan. The RPK was removed, which increased the ammunition load of shells to three thousand pieces. Night vision equipment was installed for firing at night at ground targets
ZSU-23-4M3 Biryusa - upgraded ZSU-23-4M1. Introduced ground-based radio interrogator "Luk" of the radar identification system for air targets on the principle of "friend or foe"
ZSU-23-4M4 Shilka-M4 - modernization. A radar fire control system has been installed, it is possible to supplement the Sagittarius anti-aircraft missile system. It is used by the battery of the mobile reconnaissance and control center Assembly M1 as a command post and the introduction of a telecode communication channel for data exchange between the command post and the installation in the ZSU. The analog calculating device has changed to the TsVS. A tracking digital system has been introduced. The tracked chassis has been improved in order to increase the maneuverability and controllability of the self-propelled gun and reduce the complexity of its operation and maintenance. A passive night vision device has been installed. Other radio stations, an automated control system for the performance of radio-electronic equipment and an air conditioner have been installed.
ZSU-23-4M5 Shilka-M5 - upgraded ZSU-23-4M4. An optical-electronic and radar fire control system was introduced.

6. Machines based

1S91 - self-propelled installation guidance and reconnaissance air defense system "Cube".
2P25 - self-propelled launcher of the Kub air defense system.
"Sangvin" is a self-propelled laser complex for countering optical-electronic devices of air targets.

7. Tactics

When anti-aircraft guns are involved in attacks, they provide support for the tanks, moving behind them at a distance of approximately 0.4 km.

At distances greater than 2.5 km, firing at air targets is not very effective, and because of this, it is possible only in self-defense. Three kilometers of her shells fly in six seconds.

7.1 Opposition

Helicopters with TOW guided anti-tank missiles, whose launch range can be more than 3000 m, are capable of defeating Shilka. There is no great danger for helicopters in front of Shilka, because it can not above 10%.

8. Combat use

War of attrition - on the side of Egypt
Vietnam War - on the side of North Vietnam
Arab-Israeli War - Both Sides
Battles for Mount Hermon - on the side of Syria
First Angolan Civil War - Angolan side
Egyptian-Libyan war - on the side of Libya
Ethiopian-Somali war - on the side of Somalia
Afghan war
Iran-Iraq war - on the side of Iraq
Lebanese civil war is on the side of Syria
They were used in defense against US aircraft attacks on Libya in the spring of 1986.
The Gulf War is on the side of Iraq
Armed conflict in Transnistria - both sides
Karabakh conflict is on the side of Armenia
First Chechen War - both sides
NATO operation against Serbia - on the side of Yugoslavia
Second Chechen War – both sides
Iraqi war - on the side of Iraq
The civil war in Syria is on the side of Syria.

The self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" was put into service more than 50 years ago, but despite this, it still does its job perfectly and even surpasses much later foreign-made vehicles. What is the reason for such a success of "Shilka", let's try to figure it out further.

NATO specialists began to be interested in the Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" from the moment when the first data about its capabilities appeared in the West. And in 1973, NATO members were already "feeling" the Shilka sample. The Israelis got it - during the war in the Middle East. In the early eighties, the Americans launched a reconnaissance operation to acquire another Shilka model, reaching out to the brothers of Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu. Why was the Soviet self-propelled unit so interested in NATO?

I really wanted to know: are there any major changes in the modernized Soviet ZSU? It was possible to understand the interest. "Shilka" was a unique weapon, not inferior to the championship in its class for two decades. Its contours were clearly outlined in 1961, when Soviet science was celebrating the victory of Gagarin's flight.
So, what is the uniqueness of the ZSU-23-4? Retired Colonel Anatoly Dyakov, whose fate is closely connected with this weapon, says - he served in the Air Defense Forces of the Ground Forces for decades:
“If we talk about the main thing, then for the first time we began to systematically hit air targets with Shilka. Prior to this, anti-aircraft systems of 23- and 37-mm ZU-23 and ZP-37 guns, 57-mm S-60 guns hit high-speed targets only by accident. The shells for them are percussion, without a fuse. To hit the target, it had to be hit directly by the projectile. The likelihood of this is low. In a word, the previously created anti-aircraft weapons could only put up a barrier in front of the aircraft, force the pilot to drop bombs away from the planned place ...

Pictured: Kandahar. Nagahan turn. 1986 ZSU-23-4... "SHILKA"... "SHAYTAN-ARBA"

The commanders of the units expressed delight when they saw how the Shilka not only hit targets right before their eyes, but also moved after the units, in the battle formations of the covered troops. Real revolution. Imagine, you don’t have to roll the guns ... Setting up an ambush for batteries of S-60 anti-aircraft guns, you suffer - it is difficult to hide guns on the ground. And what is it worth to build a battle formation, "attach" to the terrain, connect all the points (power units, guns, a gun-guidance station, fire control devices) with a large cable facility. What crowded calculations were! .. And here is a compact mobile installation. She came, fired from an ambush and left, then look for the wind in the field ... Today's officers, those who think in terms of the nineties, perceive the phrase “autonomous complex” differently: they say, what is unusual here? And in the sixties it was a feat of design thought, the pinnacle of engineering solutions.
The advantages of the self-propelled "Shilka" are really many. The General Designer, Doctor of Technical Sciences Nikolai Astrov, as they say, not a round anti-aircraft gunner, managed to create a machine that proved itself in many local wars and military conflicts.
To clarify what we are talking about, let's say about the purpose and composition of the 23-mm quad self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka". It is intended to protect the combat formations of troops, columns on the march, stationary objects and railway echelons from an attack by an air enemy at altitudes from 100 to 1500 meters, at ranges from 200 to 2500 meters at a target speed of up to 450 m / s. "Shilka" can also be used to destroy mobile ground targets at ranges up to 2000 meters. It fires from a place and on the move, equipped with equipment that provides an autonomous circular and sector search for targets, their tracking, the development of gun pointing angles and its control.

The ZSU-23-4 consists of a 23-mm AZP-23 quadruple automatic anti-aircraft gun, power drives designed for guidance. The next most important element is the RPU-2 radar-instrument complex. It serves, of course, to control fire. Moreover, "Shilka" could work both with the radar and with a conventional sighting optical device. The locator is, of course, good, it provides search, detection, automatic tracking of the target, determines its coordinates. But at that time, the Americans began to install missiles on planes that could find a locator using a radar beam and hit it. A visor is a visor. He disguised himself, saw the plane - immediately opened fire immediately. And no problem. The GM-575 tracked vehicle provides ZSU with high movement speed, maneuverability and increased cross-country ability. Day and night observation devices allow the driver and commander of the ZSU to monitor the road and the environment at any time of the day, and the communication equipment provides external communication and communication between crew numbers. The crew of the self-propelled unit consists of four people: the commander of the ZSU, the search operator - gunner, the range operator and the driver.

In the photo: Iraqi ZSU-23-4M damaged during Operation Desert Storm

"Shilka" was born, as they say, in a shirt. Its development began in 1957. In 1960, the first prototype was ready, in 1961 they passed state tests, in 1962, on October 16, an order was issued by the Minister of Defense of the USSR to put it into service, and three years later its mass production began. A little later - a test of combat.

Let us again give the floor to Anatoly Dyakov:

“In 1982, when the Lebanese war was going on, I was on a business trip in Syria. At the time, Israel was making serious attempts to strike at the troops stationed in the Bekaa Valley. I remember that immediately after the raid, Soviet specialists were brought fragments of the F-16 aircraft, the most modern at that time, shot down by Shilka.
Still, one might say, the warm wreckage pleased me, but I was not surprised at the very fact. I knew that "Shilka" could suddenly open fire in any area and give an excellent result. For I had to conduct electronic duels with Soviet aircraft in a training center near Ashgabat, where we trained specialists for one of the Arab countries. And not once could pilots in the desert area find us. They themselves were targets, and only, take and open fire on them ... "

And here are the memoirs of Colonel Valentin Nesterenko, who in the eighties was an adviser to the head of the Air Force and Air Defense College in North Yemen.
“In the college being created,” he said, “American and Soviet specialists taught. The material part was represented by the American anti-aircraft installations "Typhoon" and "Volcano", as well as our "Shilki". Initially, Yemeni officers and cadets were pro-American, believing that everything American is the best. But their confidence was thoroughly shaken in the course of the first combat shootings, which were carried out by the cadets. American "Volcanoes" and our "Shilkas" were installed at the training ground. Moreover, American installations were serviced and prepared for firing only by American specialists. On Shilki, all operations were carried out by the Arabs.
Both the warning about security measures and requests to set targets for the Shilok much further than for the Volcanoes were perceived by many as propaganda attacks by the Russians. But when our first installation fired a volley, belching out a sea of fire and a hail of spent cartridges, the American specialists darted into the hatches with enviable haste and took their installation away.

And on the mountain, the targets, scattered to pieces, burned brightly. For all the time of firing, "Shilka" worked flawlessly. "Volcanoes" had a number of serious breakdowns. One of them was managed only with the help of Soviet specialists ... "
It is appropriate to say here: Israeli intelligence sniffed out that the Arabs used the Shilka for the first time back in 1973. At the same time, the Israelis quickly planned an operation to capture Soviet-made ZSU and successfully carried it out. But Shilka was investigated primarily by NATO specialists. They were interested in how it is more effective than the American 20-mm ZSU "Volcano" XM-163, whether it is possible to take into account its best design features when fine-tuning the West German 35-mm twin self-propelled installation "Gepard", which had just begun to enter the troops.
The reader will surely ask: why did the Americans need another sample later, already in the early eighties? "Shilka" was rated very highly by specialists, and therefore, when it became known that modernized versions had begun to be produced, they decided to get another car overseas.
Our self-propelled unit was really constantly modernized, in particular, one of the options even acquired a new name - ZSU-23-4M Biryusa. But fundamentally, she didn't change. Unless, over time, a commander's device appeared - for the convenience of pointing, transferring the tower to the target. Blocks became more perfect, more reliable every year. Locator, for example.

And, of course, the authority of "Shilka" has grown in Afghanistan. There were no commanders there who would have been indifferent to her. There is a column along the roads, and suddenly there is fire from an ambush, try to organize a defense, all the cars have already been shot. Salvation is one - "Shilka". A long queue into the enemy camp, and a sea of \u200b\u200bfire in position. They called the self-propelled unit "shaitan-arba". The beginning of her work was determined immediately and immediately began to retreat. Shilka saved the lives of thousands of Soviet soldiers.
In Afghanistan, "Shilka" fully realized the ability to fire at ground targets in the mountains. Moreover, a special "Afghan version" was created. A radio instrument complex was seized from the ZSU. Due to him, the ammunition load was increased from 2000 to 4000 rounds. A night sight was also installed.

An interesting touch. The columns escorted by the Shilka were rarely attacked not only in the mountains, but also near settlements. The ZSU was dangerous for the manpower hidden behind the adobe duvals - the fuse of the "Sh" projectile worked when it hit the wall. Effectively "Shilka" also hit lightly armored targets - armored personnel carriers, vehicles ...
Each weapon has its own destiny, its own life. In the post-war period, many types of weapons quickly became obsolete. 5-7 years - and a more modern generation appeared. And only "Shilka" has been in combat formation for more than thirty years. It justified itself during the Persian Gulf War in 1991, where the Americans used various means of air attack, including the B-52 bombers known from Vietnam. There were very confident statements: they, they say, will smash the targets to smithereens.

And now the next entry at low altitudes of the Shilka ZSU, together with the Strela-3 complex, open fire. One plane's engine immediately caught fire. No matter how hard the B-52 tried to reach the base, it was not possible.
And one more indicator. "Shilka" is in service in 39 countries. Moreover, it was bought not only by the allies of the USSR under the Warsaw Pact, but also by India, Peru, Syria, Yugoslavia ... And the reasons are as follows. High fire efficiency, maneuverability. "Shilka" is not inferior to foreign analogues. Including the well-known American installation "Volcano".
The Vulkan, put into service in 1966, has a number of advantages, but in many respects it is inferior to the Soviet Shilka. The American ZSU can shoot at targets that move at a speed of no more than 310 m / s, while the Shilka works at faster ones - up to 450 m / s. My interlocutor Anatoly Dyakov said that he acted in a training battle on the "Volcano" in Jordan and cannot say that the American machine is better, although it was put into service later. About the same opinion and Jordanian experts.

In the photo: Egyptian "Shilka" at the parade in 1973.

The fundamental difference from the "Shilka" has ZSU "Gepard" (Germany). The large caliber of the gun (35 mm) makes it possible to have shells with a fuse and, accordingly, greater destruction efficiency - the target is hit by fragments. West German ZSU can hit targets at altitudes up to 3 kilometers, flying at speeds up to 350-400 m / s; its firing range is up to 4 kilometers. However, the "Gepard" has a lower rate of fire compared to the "Shilka" - 1100 rounds per minute against - 3400 ("Volcano" - up to 3000), it is more than twice as heavy - 45.6 tons. And we note that the Gepard was put into service 11 years later than the Shilka, in 1973, this is a later generation machine.
In many countries, the French Tyurren AMX-13 anti-aircraft artillery system and the Swedish Bofors EAAK-40 are known. But even they do not surpass the ZSU, created by Soviet scientists and workers. "Shilka" and today is in service with parts of the ground forces of many armies of the world, including the Russian one.

GP " The Arsenal plant carried out a deep modernization of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, making certain structural changes and significantly improving the capabilities of the Soviet development of the last century.

Ukrainian modernization of "Shilka" was named ZSU-23-4M-A. In the new installation, the 1RL33M radar was replaced with a Rokach-AS multifunctional radar with a digital antenna array (CAR), a new optical-location system and a missile channel were installed, a computing device was replaced with a digital computer system, new combat weapon control algorithms were integrated , other components and blocks have been replaced, it is planned to replace the gas turbine unit with a more economical power unit.

The key update from the entire list is the developed by the SE “ Plant "Arsenal" radar with CAR "Rokach-AS". It is able to work in the modes of circular review, search and auto-tracking. The radar confidently detects and accompanies even UAVs with an effective scattering surface of about 0.01 sq.m at distances up to 7 km. The new radar significantly exceeds the capabilities of its predecessor. So, if the scanning sector of the old radar was 15 degrees, and when tracking, the width of the radiation pattern was 1 degree, then in the new radar the survey of space is already carried out simultaneously in the sector of 18 degrees both in azimuth and in elevation. This feature made it possible to solve an important problem that was associated with the operation of the previous regular radar station - a long time for searching and detecting targets both by target designation and in offline mode.

The new radar with CAR is capable of quickly detecting targets both independently and according to external target designation. In addition, it allows you to simultaneously track several targets that are within the radiation pattern, and in the event of shelling one target, almost instantly switch to preparing to fire on the next one.

If earlier the 1RL33M radar occupied the entire perimeter of the tower inside the Shilka, now this small device is placed on top in a container. The free volume that has appeared in the middle of the vehicle not only creates comfortable conditions for the crew to stay, but also allows the installation of additional equipment, for example, a crew life support system.

Experimental tests, which were carried out by the enterprise at the Chernihiv test site, showed that the capabilities of the radar for tracking targets (including small ones) are very high.

From the history of the issue:

"Shilka" is a self-propelled anti-aircraft installation, which is designed to cover the troops and facilities of the Ground Forces from air strikes, destroy air and ground (surface) targets from a short stop and on the move. In Soviet times, it increased the effectiveness of the air defense units of the Ground Forces, where it was part of the regimental units. Its ability to effectively hit targets with a quadruple automatic 23-mm cannon, moving along with units in combat formations, as well as reliability and ease of operation, have become the main advantages of the installation when performing combat missions. Over a period of more than half a century of operation in conflict zones and in the territories of 39 countries around the world, where the installation was put into service, it has proven itself quite successfully. Despite its advanced age, "Shilka" still remains in combat formation, including in Ukraine.