Vietnam upgrades ZU-23-2 self-propelled artillery to destroy targets over 5km away.

By equipping the ZU-23-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with missiles, the power and range of these not-so-new weapons will increase significantly.

According to QPVN Channel, the Military Mechanical Engineering Institute is conducting research on the development of a base vehicle for installing a short-range anti-aircraft gun-missile system. This project has high applicability, is easy to operate, enhances the mobility of artillery, minimizes the effort required from troops during deployment and retrieval, and has significantly reduced the national defense budget.

The configuration of weapons produced in Vietnam is basically not much different from similar foreign products. According to published images, Vietnam's ZU-23-2 self-propelled artillery system will be equipped with Igla missiles - a type of missile that Vietnam has independently produced.

Vietnam's ZU-23-2 self-propelled artillery.

With this armament, the ZU-23-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun will have an extremely impressive combat range, as the Igla missile system can engage targets at a range of up to 5.2 km and an altitude of 3.5-4 km. To increase its target destruction capability, this self-propelled gun has been upgraded with a target acquisition and automatic firing control system.

The system includes a laser rangefinder and an electro-optical sight capable of day/night operation. An automatic loading system increases the rate of fire. The fire control system automatically adjusts the gun's elevation angle based on target parameters from the sensor system.

The electrically operated control unit, with its 360-degree rotation capability, allows for better observation. The sensor system, fire control, and artillery are interconnected to form a unified unit, enhancing combat efficiency.

Target information is displayed on a screen for the gunner to observe and control the gun so that the line of sight is centered on the target in both tracking and firing modes. Controlling the gun and sensor system is quite easy using a handheld joystick.

Previously, before the upgrade, the ZU-23-2 gun was operated entirely manually, requiring a large crew, making it unsuitable for deployment in coastal and island areas. After the upgrade, the firing commander and the entire crew of the ZU-23-2 were reduced to a single naval gun.

Automating the entire process of target identification, firing element calculation, and fire control of the ZU-23-2 artillery system has streamlined personnel while improving combat efficiency. The upgraded firing range remains the same as before.

Furthermore, the previous manual target range adjustment system used laser rangefinders and infrared imaging. With the old system, gunners spent a considerable amount of time determining the range, and the target coordinates were only approximate and not as accurate as the new system.

According to Baodatviet