M163 VADS
| M163 VADS | |
|---|---|
A U.S. Army M163 from the 24th Infantry Division at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in November 1988 | |
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1968–present |
| Used by | See list of operators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | General Electric |
| Designed | 1964 |
| Produced | 1965–1970, 1975–1979, 1982 |
| No. built | 654 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 24,700 lb (11,200 kg) (M163) 27,140 lb (12,310 kg) (M163A1) 27,542 lb (12,493 kg) (M163A2) combat weight |
| Length | 191.5 in (4.86 m) |
| Width | 112.4 in (2.85 m) |
| Height | 115 in (2.9 m) |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver) |
| Elevation | +80° / -5° |
| Armor | Rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminium, 29 mm (1.14 in) - 45 mm (1.77 in) |
Main armament | M168 General Dynamics 20 mm Rotary cannon 2,000 rounds (M163) 2,230 rounds (M163A1/A2) |
| Engine | General Motors 6V53, 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel 212 hp (158 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar, 5 road wheels |
Operational range | 275 mi (443 km) (M163/A2) 300 mi (480 km) (M163A1) |
| Maximum speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS), officially Gun, Air Defense Artillery, Self-Propelled 20-mm, M163, is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) primarily used by the United States Army. The M163 provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units against low-flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It replaced the M42 Duster as the standard American armored light air-defense gun.