Photo illustrative
Image source: topwar.ru
Poland has supplied Ukraine with an unnamed number of ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, Ukrainian resources report the appearance of anti-aircraft guns in the Polish army's characteristic colors.
Ukrainian air defense was reinforced with Polish anti-aircraft installations "Shilka". The number of transferred ZSU is not called, but it is suggested that Ukraine received the remaining part of the Soviet-made ZSU-23-4 still in service with the Polish army, which was not modernized. Ukrainian Internet resources report that one of the Polish "Shilok" was spotted at one of the sites near the contact line. The photo is fresh, since the installation has white crosses, which the APU began using not so long ago.
Meanwhile, the first information that Poland handed over to Ukraine a certain amount of "Shilok" appeared last year, but there were no details about it. However, as it is now.
It is worth noting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were armed with ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" before the start of the special operation, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine at the end of 2020 announced plans to modernize these installations to the level of 3SU-23-4M-A1 "Shilka", within which the anti-aircraft installation receives a new multifunctional radar station with a digital antenna a grid instead of an analog radar, as well as an analog computing system is replaced by a digital one. In addition, the upgraded "Shilka" receives a navigation system, a support system and a block of digital-to-analog converters.
Poland also upgraded the ZSU-23–4 "Shilka" anti-aircraft self–propelled guns to a new version of the ZSU-23-4MP Biała. The updated vehicles received a digital optoelectronic fire control system with an automated target tracking system both in daytime and at night, as well as Grom anti-aircraft missiles. The radar from the installation was dismantled – instead of it, the optical system determines the targets. In addition, the ZSU was equipped with a night vision system.
By the way, the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is also used by our troops in the SVO zone. Recently, a video was shown about one such installation, which the fighters affectionately called "grandma". Despite its venerable age, the complex is very successful in hitting aerial targets.