14.5mm ZPU-4

The ZPU-4 is a Soviet-designed towed anti-aircraft gun system featuring four 14.5mm KPV heavy machine guns. It was widely used by the Soviet Union and its allies for air defense against low-flying aircraft and ground targets.

Developed in the immediate aftermath of World War II to counter low-altitude tactical aircraft, the ZPU-4 entered service with the Soviet Armed Forces in 1949. The system saw its first major combat deployment during the Korean War, and it later became one of the most prolific anti-aircraft weapons of the Vietnam War, posing a severe threat to low-flying U.S. helicopters. It was subsequently exported globally, seeing extensive action in the Middle East and Africa, where it was frequently mounted on utility trucks as a highly mobile fire support weapon. While obsolete against modern combat jets, the ZPU-4 remains in active service with numerous militaries and insurgent groups worldwide due to its devastating effectiveness against light armor and infantry.