The Folks’s Military of Vietnam (PAV) has upgraded chosen items of its ZSU-23-4M self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons (SPAAGs) with a domestically developed electro-optical system and Russia-supplied Igla surface-to-air missiles. The ZSU-23-4M has been in service with the PAV for the reason that late Nineteen Seventies. Open-source intelligence firm Janes reported that that an instance of the upgraded system was displayed by the service on the Vietnam Worldwide Defence Exhibition (VIDEX) 2022, which is going down in Hanoi from 8 to 10 December. A PAV consultant who spoke to Janes on the exhibition disclosed that an improve programme for the SPAAGs started in 2014 and it was performed over the span of roughly 4 years.
The ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” is a frivolously armored Soviet self-propelled, radar-guided anti-aircraft weapon system (SPAAG). The acronym “ZSU” stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka, that means “anti-aircraft self-propelled system”; the “23” signifies the bore diameter in millimeters; the “4” signifies the variety of gun barrels. It’s named after the Shilka River in Russia. The looks of the “Shilka” induced vital adjustments in NATO ways in plane use at low altitude over the battlefield. Regardless of its current obsolescence as a contemporary short-range anti-aircraft weapon, the ZSU-23-4 remains to be lethal for enemy mild armoured autos, infantry and firing factors as an infantry-support automobile.
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ZSU-23-4M4 is a modernized variants, armed with two further paired “Igla” man-portable air-defense methods on both sides of the turret and outfitted with 81mm smoke grenade launchers, laser emission sensors, electro-optical imaginative and prescient gadgets (together with tv system for driver) and improved weapon radar system. The mechanical transmission was changed with hydrostatic transmission, and hydraulic boosters have been put in. Mobility elevated to the extent of major battle tanks. This improve was first proven in the course of the MAKS-99 exhibition in Zhukovsky and was carried out by the Minotor Service Enterprise and Peleng Joint Inventory Firm from the Republic of Belarus, and the Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant of Russia.
As a part of the improve, eachself-propelled anti-aircraft gun unit has been integrated with 4 9K38 Igla man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers. This extends the unit’s efficient engagement vary from 2,500 to five,500 m and goal kill altitude from 1,500 to three,000 m. Moreover, the self-propelled anti-aircraft’s goal acquisition radar has been changed with an electro-optical system that has been developed domestically. The system incorporates a daylight digicam, a thermal digicam, and a laser rangefinder. These elements are managed through an automated goal acquisition and monitoring system that has been equipped by the Viettel Army Trade and Telecoms Group. Each are state-owned enterprise and operated by the Vietnam Ministry of Nationwide Defence.
