picture 193001

Short-range air defence of all mobile formations of the Iraqi Army was the job of the Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka (ZSU) -23-4 Shilka: a vehicle with four 23mm 2A7 cannons capable of firing up to 4,000 rounds per minute. Fire-control was provided by an RPK-2 (1RL33) radar working in the J-band, at a frequency between 10 and 20 GHz. This could detect aircraft and helicopters out to a range of 20km, but its performance was generally degraded by ground clutter. While some Iraqi Shilkas were left in the olive-green colour applied before delivery, at least a few received the standard camouflage pattern consisting of yellow sand and blue-green. None are known to have worn any kind of national or unit insignia. (Artwork by Radek Panchartek)