The upgraded Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) of Indian Army is on display during the Army Exhibition ‘Shaurya Sandhya 2024’ (Bharatiya Sena -- Prerna Ka Prateek) here at Mankapur Stadium. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has upgraded the Shilka SPAAG system recently and a model of the upgraded one was displayed in previous Defence Expo in Gujarat. However, Nagpur city witnessed the original upgraded Shilka SPAAG during this exhibition. It features four 23 mm gas-operated cannon over tracked platform. It was the first modern self-propelled system in service in India which was highly mobile on a tracked chassis, had a high cyclic rate of fire of 3,400 rounds per minute with its four barrels, on board fire control radar and power supply. As per media reports, the Indian army has a total of 75 Shilka air defence vehicles, which are now under process of upgradation.

 

The Shilka system is upgraded with a 3D planar active phased-array solid-state radar and an electro-optical fire- control system that provides day and night capability for the detection, acquisition and tracking of targets. It is also fitted with electronic beam-steering and track-while-scan (TWS) search capability in circular and sector scans to improve single-target and multi-target tracking. With all these advancements, the air-defence system is also capable of tracking and destroying armed drones. The weapons have a maximum effective range of 2,500 m against aerial targets and can be also used against land targets. A total of 2,000 rounds of 23 mm ammunition is carried in 40 box magazines containing 50 belted rounds each. Visitors can witness this weapon system at Mankapur stadium till Sunday afternoon.