The Come Back Alive Foundation has announced that it has completed the modernisation of 16 ZSU-23-4M-A1 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft systems to take on Russian drones, and that these vehicles have already been delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the organisation, the programme required an outlay of around 400 million hryvnias (just over US$9.5 million), raised through a range of donations and used to fund a broad package of upgrades to the baseline design.
What changed in the ZSU-23-4M-A1 Shilka modernisation
In the technical breakdown of the work, the foundation highlighted the replacement of the legacy analogue computerised fire-control system with a digital system. The overhaul also included the addition of a new navigation suite and converters, along with various other auxiliary items of equipment.
With this set of improvements, the stated time needed to detect and engage potential targets was cut from 18 to 0.2 seconds, while the systems’ effective range was doubled. Another point emphasised by the foundation-particularly important for counter-drone missions-is that the upgraded Shilka can now lock on to up to 20 targets simultaneously.
Background: Ukraine’s Shilka upgrade push since 2020
It is worth recalling that, since 2020, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has been promoting a modernisation programme for its Shilka air-defence systems. The ministry was especially focused on fitting a new radar that would be effective against hostile drones, selecting the Rokach-AS model for that purpose.
The plan also envisages the integration of a new optoelectronic system compatible with thermal imaging, as well as a new laser rangefinder.
Deployment with the National Guard of Ukraine
Separately, the already-modernised systems were assigned to the National Guard of Ukraine, with reporting pointing specifically to the 16th Artillery Brigade. This unit is particularly focused on point-defence tasks for strategic sites, and the Shilka vehicles are already deployed and operational there. According to Come Back Alive in a statement published on its social media channels, the upgraded systems have even demonstrated their new capabilities in combat.
Come Back Alive’s wider work on short-range air defence
Looking more broadly at other upgrade efforts carried out by the same organisation at the request of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it is also worth noting its work on the Osa-AKM air-defence systems. This is a significant detail, not only because it helps build key experience in executing such programmes, but also because it aligns with an emphasis on restoring systems for which Ukraine holds a large stock of ammunition-thereby reducing reliance on donations supplied by Kyiv’s Western allies.
As the foundation puts it: “(…) the army needs more short-range air defence assets to protect critical infrastructure, but new anti-aircraft complexes are expensive, as is the ammunition for them. The Shilka uses ammunition that currently exists in abundance both in Ukraine and among our international partners. And, thanks to this deep modernisation, the anti-aircraft mounts received modern digital ‘brains’ for fire control and a radar detection system, with which processing time was reduced by almost a hundredfold.”
Image credits: Come Back Alive Foundation
You may be interested in: (Norway will fund the purchase of S-300 air-defence systems for transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine)
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment