ZAK-23E - Russias early take on counter UAS

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ZAK-23E-1

History

The ZAK-23E is a prototype short-range self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built by Tulamashzavod and the Elins Research and Development Center. Elins supplied the electro-optical and radar sensors.

The vehicle was first shown at a closed event in 2022. Its first public appearance was at the “Engineers of the Future 2023” forum near Tula on 26 June 2023, and it was then displayed at the Army-2023 forum near Moscow in mid-August 2023. Tulamashzavod representatives described it as being in the early stages of development. It was designed around a simple idea: put robust, mass-produced components (a BTR-82A hull and the proven 23 mm gun family) behind modern sensors, so it can deal with small drones, helicopters and cruise missiles at short range.

At the same Army-2023 show the same two companies presented the ZU-23AE, a towed ZU-23 upgrade with a target-tracking automat, laser rangefinder, and thermal and TV cameras. It can work as a group of up to three mounts, with one leader and two followers. The ZAK-23E is the self-propelled counterpart to that program.

No production order, service entry, export customer or combat use was found in the sources reviewed, so the ZAK-23E should be treated as a built and publicly demonstrated prototype.

Design

The ZAK-23E uses a BTR-82A 8x8 armored vehicle as its base. A remote, unmanned weapon module is mounted on top. The module carries two 23 mm 2A7M autocannons. To save space, the two guns sit in separate casings on the sides of the module and the belt feed system runs between them. The 2A7M is a single-barrel gun from the same family as the guns on the ZU-23-2 and the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, and it fires the 23x152B cartridge.

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Target detection is done by a surveillance radar, a meteorological sensor and a spherical panoramic electro-optical system mounted at the front of the vehicle, all developed by Elins. Targeting is handled by a gyro-stabilized turret-type electro-optical module that is reported to combine thermal (mid and long-wave infrared), TV and low-light TV channels [UNVERIFIED, single source]. The system is described as able to detect and engage targets on its own.

The 23x152B cartridge is available with API-T and HEI-T projectiles. The ZAK-23E is also reported as capable of firing programmable-fuse airburst rounds against drones, but no fielded round for this vehicle has been documented [UNVERIFIED]. A source quoted by RIA Novosti said the full range of 23 mm ammunition, including controlled-detonation rounds, can be used. Shephard reports that the combat module could allegedly be fitted on other wheeled and tracked chassis, but only the BTR-82A version has been shown.

The BTR-82A base vehicle is an 8x8 with a 300 hp engine and a crew of three plus seven troops in its normal APC role. The figures for the finished ZAK-23E (combat mass, crew, ammunition load) have not been published.

Specifications

Parameter Value
Designation ZAK-23E (ЗАК-23Э)
Origin Russia
Developers JSC Tulamashzavod and JSC Research Center Elins
Status Prototype, first shown 2022 (closed), publicly shown 2023
Known variants One known version, on BTR-82A; the combat module is reportedly adaptable to other chassis
Related program ZU-23AE, towed upgrade from the same developers (Army-2023)
Operators None (prototype only)
Base vehicle BTR-82A 8x8
Base vehicle mass 15.4 t (BTR-82A, not the finished ZAK-23E)
Base vehicle engine 300 hp diesel (BTR-82A)
Base vehicle range 450 km (BTR-82A) [UNVERIFIED, single source]
Crew Not published (module is remote-operated); BTR-82A hull crew is 3
Armament 2 x 23 mm 2A7M autocannons
Cartridge 23x152B
Projectile weight and velocity (API, cartridge family) About 190 g at about 980 m/s
Ammunition types API-T, HEI-T, programmable-fuse airburst rounds [UNVERIFIED]
Rate of fire Up to 2000 rounds per minute combined (Tulamashzavod newspaper interview); some outlets report 3500 [UNVERIFIED]
Effective range Up to 2.5 km
Effective altitude Up to 1.5 km (developer quote); one outlet reports 2 km [UNVERIFIED]
Ammunition capacity Not published
Elevation and traverse Not published
Search sensor Surveillance radar plus meteorological sensor (Elins)
Sighting sensor Panoramic electro-optical system; gyro-stabilized module with thermal and TV channels [UNVERIFIED, single source]
Armor Not published

What it would add to the game

The ZAK-23E would add a modern wheeled SPAA built around the same 23 mm gun family that players already know from the BTR-ZD and the ZSU-23-4 line. It would give players a drone-era anti-aircraft vehicle with a remote weapon module, thermal and TV sighting, and radar cueing, instead of an open-topped gun mount or an optical-only sight.

Its role would be clearly defined. It is a gun-only SPAA with an effective range of about 2.5 km, so it would not outrange modern attack aircraft or helicopters armed with standoff missiles. That makes it a close-in defender for flanks, convoys and objectives. The 8x8 hull gives it speed and mobility to relocate after firing, with only light protection from its BTR-82A base.

It would also add a new style of gameplay: mobile, gun-based area defense against low-flying threats, with a sensor package designed for the current anti-drone and low-altitude threat picture.

Would you like to see the ZAK-23E in-game?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
How should the ZAK-23E be added?
  • Yes, as a Tech Tree vehicle
  • Yes, as a Premium vehicle
  • Yes, as a Squadron vehicle
  • Yes, as an Event vehicle
  • No, I do not want it added in any form
0 voters

Sources

2 Likes
2

I hope this will be a very high BR, +1.

3

+1

4

+1 Sort of a 9.3 PGZ09 equivalent

5

+1 would be a excellent SPAA however we know she will be more anti-tank.
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