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Suggestion No.53
G’day lads. I want to suggest a modernized Shilka, now featuring a better radar, sights, additional missiles and more things, all of which can be found on the modernized ZSU-23-4, made mostly by Elbit, CSG and STP :)
Description:
Spoiler
The modernized ZSU-23-4 (as far as I know, it wasn’t given a name) was shown during ADEX 2024. It has an improved modern radar, 4 SAM (Verba), Elbit COAPS-L sights and Elbit VRC-950 radio. It also has counters for UAV’s/drones, with jammers protecting the vehicle from them.
History:
Spoiler
The concept for the ZSU-23-4 was conceived in the late 1950s by the Soviet Union as a response to the increasing threat of low-altitude attack aircraft. Development officially began in 1957, aiming to provide mobile anti-aircraft support for Soviet armored and mechanized units. The ZSU-23-4 was designed by the Mytishchi Engineering Works and produced by the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant. The design was finalized and approved for production by the early 1960s.
Of course, the Shilka was exported here and there, having many operators, and one of them was Azerbaijan. The history of the usage of the Shilka from Azerbaijan is scarce, but they did use them during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, where I sadly cannot find how effective they were.
Azerbaijan still had ZSU-23-4’s left, and during ADEX 2024 (Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition), a Shilka was shown with upgraded electronics, including a better radar and sights, as well as missiles. It was shown in yellow desert camo (most likely from Elbit, as they tend to showcase vehicles like that). It’s unknown if Azerbaijan accepted this upgrade proposal or not.
Armaments:
Spoiler
4x AZP-23 23mm autocannons with 2000 rounds
4x Verba MANPADS
Elbit COAPS-L electro-optical system
Elbit VRC-950 radio
Jammers for UAV/Drones
Radar that can detect targets with an effective radar cross-section (RCS) of 1 m2 at a distance of 20 km, with an RCS of 0.1 m2 within a radius of 10 km, and with an RCS of 0.01 m2 at 7 km.
According to the company, the radar can simultaneously track up to 100 targets, the tracking range of targets with an RCS of 1 m2, 0.1 m2 and 0.01 m2 is 15, 7 and 4 km respectively.
Specifications:
Spoiler
The Shilka has a length of 6.5m, a width of 3.1m and a height of 2.6m, or 3.6m with it’s radar elevated. This Shilka is 1.4 tons lighter, being now 17.6 tons compared to around 19 tons. It is powered by the same V-6R1 6-cylinder diesel 280hp engine, but the original DG4M-1 radial gas turbine, found on older ZSU-23-4’s, used to drive generators for electronics gave way to a Lombardini LDW 1404 35.5 Hp liquid cooled diesel engine.
Sources:
Spoiler
Azerbaijan Enhances Anti-Aircraft Capabilities with Modernized ZSU-23-4 Shilka at ADEX 2024
6th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition
ADEX 2024 - Azerbaijan modernizes military equipment of Soviet design - EDR Magazine
ADEX 2024: CSG upgrading Azerbaijani Shilka SPAAGs
Thanks a lot for reading! If you have any extra information, then feel free to share them in the replies! As always, have a good day :)