Polish Shilkas are used in Ukraine

Ukrainian air defense was reinforced with Polish ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled guns.

A photo of this SPAAG with a characteristic Polish camouflage was published on social media.

The Polish Armed Forces had approximately 50 Soviet-era ZSU-23-4 Shilkas in service.

At one point, the Polish Ministry of Defense ordered the modernization of these SPAAGs to a new ZSU-23-4MP Biala level.

The first prototype of the upgraded Shilka was introduced in 2000.

The system was adopted in December 2005, but actual work on modernizing the SPAAGs started only in 2010.

The upgraded vehicles received a digital optical and electronic fire control system with an automated target tracking in both daytime and night conditions.

Biala is equipped with night vision systems for the commander and driver, and the crew is reduced to three people.

However, Poland likely started to supply Ukraine with initially not modernized ZSU-23-4 Shilka systems in 2022.

The last known contract to upgrade Shilkas to the ZSU-23-4MP Biala version was signed in 2013.

According to available information, after that time, the Polish armed forces still had a number of unmodernized ZSU-23-4s, which Ukraine received.

These anti-aircraft systems are used in the anti-aircraft battalions of brigades to cover armored vehicles in combat formations.