ZU 23/2 is designed to engage towards low-flying targets and armored vehicles. The main purpose of this weapon is direct defense of troops and strategic locations against air assault usually conducted by helicopters and low-flying airplanes.

• ZU 23/2 can be prepared for firing from the march position in 30 seconds and in emergency can be fired from the travelling position.
  
  
• The weapon is aimed and fired manually, with the help of the optical-mechanical sight which uses manually entered target data to provide limited automatic aiming. It also has a straight-tube telescope T-3 for use against ground targets such as infantry as well as unarmored or lightly armored vehicles.
  
  
• Normally, once each barrel has fired 100 rounds it becomes too hot and is therefore replaced with a spare barrel. Each weapon is normally provided with two replacement barrels as part of its standard equipment.
  
  

Basic tactical and tehnical characteristics: