The Air Force Rifle Brigade has been armed with a modernized HMMWV tactical vehicle with a GSh-23 autocannon.

The footage was released by the press service of the Combined Arms Rifle Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Force.

Recently, the unit completed practical firing with the use of “improvised” gun trucks, during which the soldiers improved tactical exercises and shooting skills necessary for soldiers on the front line.

In particular, the vehicle’s crew practiced direct fire on a target, as well as firing from a closed firing position beyond the line of sight with the help of a reconnaissance drone.

The GSh-23L turret-mounted double-barrel automatic gun uses 23mm armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds and can fire at a rate of 500 to 3,500 rounds per minute in 8-10 round bursts.

The effective range for direct fire does not exceed 2 kilometers, but when firing in a high arc from concealed positions, it can extend 2-3 times farther. Its low accuracy is offset by the density of fire and the power of its ammunition.

The GSh-23L was designed exclusively for aircraft platforms and operation at certain altitudes, which significantly reduced the requirements for resistance to pollution, and thus it is not adapted for operation on the ground. The same applies to mechanical sights, which are not available on the gun.

Probably, along with the production of a special turret equipped with ammunition containers and a supply system, its designers also provided sighting devices. However, they are not visible in the photo.

Air Force Rifle Brigade

The deputy commander of the consolidated rifle brigade with the call sign “Apostle” noted that the demonstrated practical shooting is important for increasing combat effectiveness and mobility of the Ukrainian units.

The brigade was formed from aviation, anti-aircraft missile, and radio engineering troops to participate in ground operations alongside other units of the Defense Forces at the front line. The reason for this is mainly due to a significant personnel shortage in the infantry units of the Defense Forces.

The brigade said that over the past month, its units, together with marines and paratroopers, have carried out a number of important operations, including repelling dozens of enemy assaults in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions, where the enemy tried to seize our positions and gain a foothold.

Last year, the Ukrainian military began using old Soviet KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft guns as artillery to hit ground targets from indirect fire positions.