Once in practice, the Shilka was immediately put to work in replacing the older anti-aircraft defense systems. For a time, she was fielded alongside the outgoing ZSU-57-2 until her own numbers increased. She was used to protect portions of the vast Soviet Union airspace, applying point defense for all types of military value targets, and could create a lethal defensive "umbrella" when coupled with mobile medium- and long-range, anti-aircraft missile-launching systems. Should enemy aircraft evade or try and avoid the missiles, it would have the Shilka to contend with. Even over time, the Shilka system has survived to still be feared by pilots and warplanners alike. Her rapid fire cannons deliver a potent stream of deadly 23mm ammunition and her integrated radar system makes her an accurate gunnery platform with her established ranges. Her tracked nature means that she can be stationed just about anywhere and can also supply support fire when these armored units are on the move. Today, modernized Shilkas have even been upgraded with short-ranged, anti-aircraft missile launchers that increase the system's lethality to an extent - making for a more complete defense piece. These launchers are fitted to the turret sides or roof and work alongside the battery of cannon.
If the Shilka series maintains some inherent limitations it is in her use of the water-cooled cannons, her inherently short-ranged nature and her lack of armor protection from modern portable anti-tank weapons. However, it is a testament to her design that she still maintains something of a battlefield profile even today. From the late 1960s to today, the weapon system has gone on to prove her worth in seeing extensive action during the War of Attrition (1968-1970), the Yom Kippur War (1973), the Vietnam War (1959-1975), the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), the Angolan Civil War (1975-1991), the Western Sahara War (1975-1991), the Libyan-Egyptian War (1977), the Ogaden War (1977-1978), the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent war (1979-1988), the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), the Lebanon War (1982), the Gulf War (1990-1991), the Georgian-Abkhazian War (1992-1993), the 1st Chechen War (1994-1996), the 2nd Chechen War (1999), the Invasion of Iraq (2003) and the War in South Ossetia (2008).
The ZSU-23-4 has only existed in a few notable variants and many of these have been subtle upgrades and modernizations of previous Shilka generations. The ZSU-23-4VI of 1970 added an improved V-6R-1 series engine while the ZSU-23-4M (known as the "Biryusa") of 1973 fitted a pyrotechnic loading system over the original's pneumatic system while ammunition counts were increased to 4,500 23mm projectiles. The ZSU-23-4MZ fitted a "friend or foe" identification system and became the new Shilka standard for previous models in service ("Shilka" went on to informally represent all further developments of the system despite the "Biryusa" name being used). The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan brought about a revised Shilka in the ZSU-23-4M2 which added a night sighting device and lost the radar installation. In 1999, the ZSU-23-4M4 was unveiled to the public and showcased the latest modern incarnation of the Shilka family line. This particular version fitted a hydrostatic transmission, laser emission sensors for self-defense and electro-optical vision devices for the crew.
Ukraine has since modernized their existing Shilkas and designates them as "Donets". In 1999, the Malyshev Tank Factory out of Kharkov revised the turrets to fit surface-to-air missile defense systems and assembled them onto the chassis of T-80UD Main Battle Tanks. Similarly, the ZSU-23-4MP "Biala" represents a Polish Army upgrade that occurred in 2000. Grim anti-aircraft missiles were added as were digital systems. Some of the largest Shilka operators went on to become Algeria (perhaps up to 300 examples), Egypt (330 examples with more though to be on the way), India (100), Iran (over 100 examples), Iraq (over 200 examples in unknown condition), Libya (250), Syria (400) and Vietnam (100).
Incidentally, the designation of ZSU-23-4 indicated gun caliber ("23") and number of barrels ("2"). The name "Shilka" is derived from the Shilka River in western Russia. The Shilka may also be known under its nickname of "Zeus".
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