Russian sources report that during one of the forums, an experimental prototype of a self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery system based on the BTR-82 carrier was presented. It is supposedly designed specifically to combat enemy UAVs. This installation is equipped with two 2A7 23 mm anti-aircraft guns from the ZSU-23-4 Shilka system, but the ammunition capacity for the guns is unknown.
Supposedly, optoelectronic equipment from the russian NTC Elins, located in Zelenograd (Moscow), is used for fire control. Since September 2022, this company has been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department (prohibiting Western companies from conducting trade operations with this enterprise).
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The specific details of this system, including crew size, effective detection range and target engagement capabilities, remain undisclosed. However, considering the operational parameters of the ZSU-23-4 Shilka sustem, which has a documented firing range of 2.5 km. Additionally, the barrel lifespan of the 2A7 23 mm anti-aircraft guns, originally designed for the ZSU-23-4 Shilka, is finite.
Firstly, this development may be an attempt to create a more “technologically advanced” alternative to their improvised self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, which were constructed using readily available materials such as the MT-LB vehicle fitted with naval anti-aircraft guns like the 2M-3 or even the BTR-50 carrier equipped with the ZU-23-2 cannon. And at the same time, it may be an endeavor to design a less “analog-oriented” alternative to the Derivaciya-PVO anti-aircraft gun, which, despite being unveiled six years ago, remains in the experimental phase.
Taking into account the details, it should be noted that the Derivaciya-PVO system is based on the BMP-3 vehicle chassis and was originally designed to feature a 2A90 57 mm anti-aircraft gun. This gun, essentially a modified version of the S-60 gun, aimed to offer an increased firing rate of up to 120 rounds per minute, a claimed firing range of 6 km and a target engagement altitude of 4.5 km.
When considering the resources available for the production of a new “drone killer”, the situation appears uncertain. According to The Military Balance 2022, the russian army had a total of 1,000 BTR-82 vehicles of various types at the beginning of a full-scale invasion. However, this number should be adjusted by subtracting at least 493 vehicles, which conservative estimates from Oryx indicate have been confirmed as losses.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of information regarding the exact number of ZSU-23-4 Shilka systems that were in active service or stored in russian army facilities during the full-scale invasion. According to Oryx, the russian forces lost a minimum of 8 Shilka systems during war. Out of these losses, at least five were captured and became trophies in the possession of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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