Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" was built in a large series and delivered to several dozen foreign countries. One of the recipients of such technology was the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Vietnamese People's Army still operates a large number of Shiloks, but their moral and physical obsolescence leads to the need to develop various modernization projects.
Directions of modernization
The ZSU-23-4 was created at the turn of the fifties and sixties, and over the past decades, the requirements for military air defense systems have changed significantly. As a result, to date, "Shilka" has accumulated a lot of shortcomings that hinder its effective use in modern combat.
First of all, the onboard radio electronics used in early modifications has long been hopelessly outdated. The quad mount of 23 mm automatic cannons has insufficient range to deal with the entire spectrum of modern air targets. To all this should be added the obsolescence of the chassis and its components, as well as the growing complexity of repairing existing equipment.
Understanding the problems of the existing armored vehicles, VNA initiated their modernization quite a long time ago. A number of local enterprises, headed by the Scientific Research Institute of Military Sciences and Technologies of the VNA, have developed a project for updating outdated equipment, ensuring a noticeable increase in its combat qualities.
The first project of this kind was successfully brought to a mass serial restructuring of equipment. To date, a new project has been created that has significant differences and advantages. According to known data, this upgrade option is still in its early stages and is not yet ready for deployment in the troops.
Electronics and weapons
Currently, the ground forces of the VNA have a number of independently modernized ZSU-23-4 with new electronics and an enhanced weapons complex. The first Vietnamese project of deep modernization of Shilki provides for getting rid of the main problems and leads to a noticeable increase in all tactical and technical characteristics.
Initially, the ZSU-23-4 was equipped with an RPK-2M radio device. This early sixties development was based on the technologies and components of the time, which precludes its use in modern projects. Vietnamese "Shilki" received a full set of new devices of local and foreign design - modern digital systems with high performance are used. They take over all the responsibilities of the RPK-2M, and also solve some new tasks.
The base radar type 1RL33M2 was replaced with a new station with improved characteristics. Its rectangular antenna is located on the standard tower mounts and can be folded for transportation. Replacing the radar made it possible to increase the number of detected targets, reduced vulnerability to electronic warfare, and gave a number of other advantages.
The workstations of the three crew members in the tower are now equipped with LCD screens and compact control panels. Cabinets and racks with old lamp equipment were replaced with several modern smaller units. Completed the replacement of communications. New devices provide not only voice communication, but also data transmission directly to computer systems.
The new complex of electronic equipment is able to independently monitor the air situation, find and track targets, and also issue data for firing. Fire control is carried out in automatic or semi-automatic modes.
Communication and control facilities allow multiple installations to be assembled into a battery controlled by a separate command post. In this case, monitoring the situation and searching for targets is carried out by a separate radar, and the command post distributes targets between combat vehicles. Self-propelled guns independently accompany the assigned targets and ensure their defeat.
A quad mount based on 2A7 cannons provides effective fire at ranges up to 2.5 km and altitudes up to 1.5 km, which is not enough for organizing modern and effective air defense. At the same time, the combat characteristics of the installation are significantly increased due to modern fire control systems.
Vietnamese specialists supplemented the Shilka cannons with guided missiles. In the aft part of the tower, they installed a swinging launcher for four missiles of the Strela or Igla portable anti-aircraft complex. With their help, the firing range is increased to 5-6 km, the altitude - up to 3-3.5 km. The presence of missiles and guns makes the modernized ZSU-23-4 a more flexible tool for military air defense.
According to this project, at least part of the cash ZSU-23-4 from the VNA units was modernized. The consequences of these works are obvious. The army got the opportunity not to spend money on the purchase of new equipment and continue to operate the existing one, raising its characteristics to an acceptable level. In addition, our own modernization project turned out to be much cheaper than similar foreign proposals.
Stealthy air defense
Vietnam continues the process of modernizing Shilok on its own. A few days ago, the Vietnamese defense TV channel QPVN revealed the details of the new project. He also showed the components proposed for use in the new version of the ZSU-23-4. The next project provides for the replacement of the main detection equipment, as a result of which the self-propelled gun will not unmask itself.
A new project from the Research Institute of Military Sciences and Technologies proposes to abandon the radar in favor of optoelectronic systems with the same functions. Modern optics is able to find and track airborne targets within the required range, but it does not emit anything. Accordingly, the enemy will not be able to find "Shilka" by its radio signal. The necessary optoelectronic devices have already been created and are being tested at the stand.
Also, a new modernization project proposes strengthening missile weapons. Now the ZSU-23-4 must carry two packages with four guided missiles each. As before, light anti-aircraft missiles from Russian-made MANPADS are used.
It is argued that the new modernization will again increase the fighting qualities of the Shilka, but at the same time it will have an acceptable cost. From the point of view of finance, own Vietnamese project is several times more profitable than foreign ones. At the same time, it is not yet clear whether there is a ZSU-23-4 of the second modernization in metal. QPVN only showed demos for the new project, not the finished sample.
New from old
Vietnam is known for its economical and lean approach to weapons and military equipment. At the same time, the available samples do not always meet modern requirements - some of the combat vehicles are outdated morally and physically long ago. In this regard, Vietnamese scientists and engineers are independently developing new modernization projects.
In the recent past, Vietnam independently re-equipped the Shilok with modern equipment. Now a new project of this kind is being prepared, capable of increasing the survivability of equipment on the battlefield. Mass introduction of new solutions is just around the corner.
This shows that the Vietnamese command is still in no hurry to abandon the long-obsolete anti-aircraft installations, but is ready to update them as much as possible. This approach to the development of the materiel of the ground forces is very interesting and, apparently, useful. It is quite possible that in the medium term, the Vietnamese People's Army will launch another Shilok modernization project. In the twenties, half a century has passed since the first delivery of the ZSU-23-4 to Vietnam, and this technique will definitely serve until this anniversary - remaining serviceable and capable of solving the assigned tasks.
