AT 1973 , during the war in the Middle East, anti-aircraft ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" knocked about 10% Israeli aircraft destroyed all. However, their main merit, According to foreign military experts, was that, that they have created such a dense curtain of fire at low altitudes, that the pilots were forced to go up, action in the area of air defense missiles. Only three days of fighting the Israeli Air Force lost by Syrian missiles around 100 aircraft.
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" at the shooting range – video
Development of 23-mm anti-aircraft systems to destroy air targets at low altitudes began in the Soviet Union in the late 50s. The nominated mobility as basic requirements, high degree of automation, the possibility of firing on the move and with the space, as well as the minimum amount of time to bring the machine to alert. For designers the main problem lies in the arrangement of ZSU. After much debate, you selected, whose arms, equipment and crew seats were placed in a closed tower of relatively large size. Quad 23-mm automatic gun ARQ-23 "Amur" (2A10) had belt-fed, which allowed to do without charging. Feeding tape made of the side ammunition boxes. Ammunition included armor-piercing projectiles and shrapnel weighing about 190 g. fire is controlled by radar and instrument complex, ability to detect and destroy targets at a height 100-1500 m. When the radar jammer is turned off and the gunner aiming performed by Scooter. Chassis "Shilka", borrowed from the self-propelled SU-85, I had a good cross, and engine capacity 280 HP. giving the car speed 50 kmh.
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" began to flow in a tank regiment of the Soviet Army in 1965 year, and its production continued until 1983 of the year. Anti-aircraft guns went through several stages of modernization in order to increase reliability and survivability and is still in the various countries of the world arms.
It was used in the Arab-Israeli wars, the conflict between Iran and Iraq, as well as during the Gulf War. During "Operation Desert Storm" Iraq "Shilka" destroyed even one aircraft F-117A, built by "stealth" technology.
The performance characteristics of the ZSU-23-4 “Şilka”
| Crew, people | 4 |
| combat weight, t | 19 |
| Length, m | 6,53 |
| Width, m | 3,12 |
| Height, m | 2,57 |
| weaponry | Quad author. Asn-23 rifle |
| rate of, rounds / min | 3400 |
| Engine | V6R power 280 HP. |
| Power reserve, km | 450 |
Photo ZSU-23-4 “Şilka”
Lined in Iraq ZSU-23-4 “Şilka”
