The ZSU-57-2 was the Red Army's first purpose-built self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and despite being not particularly successful laid the groundwork for more successful designs later. The ZSU-57-2 was based on the chassis of the T-54 tank, retaining the all-welded steel hull but with lighter armor protection and with only four rather than five road wheels. The open top turret is large and has slightly sloping sides and rounded corners and mounts twin 57-mm S-68 cannon (hence the ZSU-57-2 designation) with features powered elevation, depression, and traverse although manual operation is possible. The guns can fire various types of ammunition including FRAG, HE, and APC rounds with a maximum rate of fire of 105-120 rounds per minute with an effective altitude limit of 4237 m at 65°, and aiming is done using an optical mechanical computing reflex site. The ZSU-57-2 entered service in the mid-1950s but the absence of radar and the low rate of fire limited its effectiveness and it was soon superseded in Soviet service by the far superior ZSU-23-4. However it was still relatively effective as a fire support weapon given its ability to destroy lighter armored AFVs. The ZSU-57-2 was widely exported among Warsaw Pact members and Soviet client states abroad including locally-produced copies in China and North Korea. They saw considerable combat in the Vietnam War, the Arab-Israeli wars, the Gulf War, and the war in Yugoslavia albeit mostly for fire support.

Development of the ZSU-57-2 (Ob'yekt 500) began in 1947 with the first prototype ready in 1950 although further testing was needed before it finally entered service in 1955. There were no major variants built for Soviet service although later versions featured improved S-68A cannon and more sophisticated sighting system. Foreign versions often had further upgrades such as Egyptian and Finnish versions which were equipped with radar. Local copies were known as the Type 80 (WZ-305) in China which used the chassis of the Type 69-II tank, as well as a North Korean version on the chassis of the Chinese Type 59 tank.