LSPRZA Sopel - "Watch your head pilot"

THEPolishThunder · October 27, 2026, 1:16am

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History

History

“Lekki Samobieżny Przeciwlotniczy Zestaw Rakietowo-Artyleryjski “Sopel””

“Light Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Missile-Artillery System “Icicle””

During the 1970s, Poland began producing the MT-LB armoured transporter under licence, which would eventually lead to more specialised versions of the vehicle. In 1978, work began on several proposed vehicles, including the Promet self-propelled anti-aircraft system. Armed with twin 23 mm autocannons, the Promet underwent prototype testing with its firing accuracy proved unsatisfactory. This led to the development of Promet-2, which was intended to feature twin 30 mm 2A42 cannons and a RADWAR radar system. However due to the unsatisfactory load-bearing capacity of the MTLB the project would be stopped in 1980.

In the early 1990s, the OBR SM research and development centre in Tarnów and the OBRMZiT centre in Stalowa Wola began work on another self-propelled anti-aircraft system. The objective was to provide the Polish Army with a relatively simple and affordable successor to existing systems, including the ZSU-23-4 Szyłka and the Hibneryt, which mounted ZU-23-2 autocannons on the cargo beds of Star 266 trucks. The new vehicle was designated Sopel .

Design work began in March 1993, and a prototype was completed by December of the same year. The vehicle used a modified, amphibious Opal II tracked chassis, developed in Stalowa Wola. Its newly designed welded turret was developed in Tarnów under the direction of engineer Kazimierz Broniewicz, with the turret prototype manufactured in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.

This prototype was equipped with a tachometric sight, while more advanced fire-control equipment was envisaged for future development. Proposed systems included television observation, thermal imaging, laser rangefinding and a ballistic computer (which would be later used in the Stalagmit).The designers also considered replacing the twin 23 mm autocannons with a single 35 mm autocannon, demonstrating the turret’s potential for further modernisation.

Concept shown off with a singular 23mm instead of the 35mm

The Sopel was a good vehicle for it’s price tag, but it sadly never made it into production, however solutions from this vehicle would be later reused in the Stalagmit, expect more on this vehicle soon.

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Characteristics

Armament

Details

2 x 23 mm 2A14 cannons

Elevation: -8° to +80°

Fire rate: 400 rds/m

Ammo capacity: Ready racked 250 rds for each cannon

Total ammunition capacity: 1200 rounds

Ammo feeding: single feed

2x 9K32 Strzała-2M launchers

Ready-to-fire: 2

Additional in storage: 6

Electric drive

Horizontal rotation speed: 80°/s

Vertical rotation speed: 50°/s

Ammunition

23x152 z pociskiem BZT

Type of bullet: API

Projectile weight: 191.6 ± 2.9 g

Cartridge weight: ~ 450 g

Average bullet velocity: V0 = 970 ± 15 m/ s

Power charge Mass: ~ 77 g (1188.29 gr)

23x152 z pociskiem OFZT

Type of bullet: HEI

Bullet weight: 188.5g

Cartridge weight: 450g

Bullet velocity: 970m/s

Tracer burning time: Minimum of 5,4 seconds

9K32 Strzała-2M

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Type of warhead: FRAG-HE

Caliber: 72mm

Flight Speed: 500m/s

Rocket Weight: 9.2kg

Guidance: Infrared

Detonation Mechanism: Contact

Operation Range: 2800 m (from the front hemisphere), 4200 m (from the rear hemisphere)

Altitude: 50-2,300m

Mobility

Details

Engine: SWT 11/307/2 (320Hp)

Transmission: Mechanical

Gears: 6 forward, 1 reverse

Top Speed: 60km/h

Top speed in water: 7 km/h

Weight: 16500kg

Supension: Torsion Bar

Amphibious

Armour

Details

Chassis was welded from steel armor with a thickness of 7 mm to 16 mm

Turret is unknown only known information is “protection from small arms fire”

Optics, electronics, other

Details

Sight area highlighted in blue

“For now the vehicle is equipped with the tachometric sight that is used in the Wróbel and Jod (Modernised ZSU-23-2 system)” - These are equipped with the GP1-R sight.

Gunner sight: GP1-R Sight

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Magnification: 1x and 3x

Commander sight: PO-10??

Back up sight: 1PZ-3 Sight

Magnification: 1.2× and 4×

Field of View: 49° at 1.2×; 14° at 4×

Laser rangefinder

Lead indicator

12x 81mm Smoke grenades

Length: 7610mm

Width: 3150mm

Height: 3020mm

Crew: 3 (gunner,commander,driver)