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.

Mar 14, 2025 · Armor is not on the M163's side, as it is thin enough to be destroyed by 12.7 mm machine guns from the sides and rear, and any cannon-sized armament from the front. The turret is partially open, leaving the crew vulnerable to enemy fire. On top of the light armor, it is also vulnerable to overpressure, whether it is a direct hit or proximity ...

These include armor-piercing incendiary, high-explosive incendiary, HEI-T, MPT-SD, SAPHEI and APDS ammunition. Aside from the mounting gun, the M113's chassis remains largely intact for the M163. The design is characterized by its flat sides, sloping front glass panel and angular rear.

The M163 VADS was a cold war mass produced self propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the M113 armored personal carrier. It entered service in the Vietnam war and stayed in service until the 1991 Gulf War, gradually replaced by the M2 Bradley and other systems.

Jul 2, 2019 · The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) mated the firepower of the United States Air Force's standard aerial cannon - the M61 Vulcan - with the proven "go-anywhere" hull of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

Since the M163 weighed so much more than the M113A1, flotation cells were fitted to the sides of the vehicle, and a high-displacement trim vane was added to the front. When the powertrain modifications of the M113A2 APC were introduced to the M163, the carrier vehicle was redesignated as M741A1.

Aug 21, 2018 · The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) that was used by the United States Army between 1968 - 1994. The M168 gun is a variant of the General Dynamics 20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon, the standard cannon in most U.S. combat aircraft since the 1960s, mounted on either an armored vehicle or a trailer.

The M163 Vulcan is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun of US origin. Also known as the Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS), it was developed to replace the M42 Duster in US service. The M163 was complemented by the Chaparral self-propelled surface to air missile system in US service.

Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun M163 (VADS) Manufacturer. FMC Corporation. Designed . Produced. 1968 - In service. 1968 - Tactical and Technical Data ; Version. M163. Produced. 1968 - In service. ... Turret - front-Turret - flanks-Turret - rear-Turret - top-Performance; Speed on road.

World of Tanks Modern Armor - KNOW YOUR WAR! Designed to replace the M42 as an anti-aircraft measure, the Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) was developed starting in 1964. At its core was a six-barreled, 20mm rotary autocannon that had also been mounted on such aircraft as the U.S. Air Force’s Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.