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The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) that was used by the United States Army. The M168 gun is a variant of the General Dynamics 20 mm (0.79 in) 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.

M163 VADS
A U.S. Army M163 from the 24th Infantry Division at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in November 1988
TypeSelf-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1968–present
Used byUnited States (1968–1994), NATO
WarsVietnam War
Western Sahara War
1982 Lebanon War
Invasion of Panama
Persian Gulf War
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Iraq War (Limited)
Yemeni Civil War (2014-present)
Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen[1]
Specifications
Mass12,493 kilograms (27,542 lb) combat weight
Length4.86 meters (191.5 in)
Width2.85 meters (112.4 in)
Height2.9 meters (115 in)
Crew4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)

ArmorRolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminium, 29-45
Main
armament
M168 General Dynamics 20 mm M61 Vulcan Rotary cannon
2,100 rounds
Secondary
armament
None/crew small arms
EngineGeneral Motors 6V53, 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel
212 hp (158 kW)
Suspensiontorsion bar, 5 road wheels
Operational
range
480 km (300 mi)
Maximum speed 64 km/h (40 mph)

Technical description


The weapon is mounted on a modified M113 vehicle (the M741 carrier). The system was designed to complement the M48 Chaparral missile system. The M163 uses a small, range-only radar, the AN/VPS-2, and an M61 optical lead-calculating sight. The system is suitable for night operations with the use of AN/PVS series night vision sights that can be mounted to the right side of the primary sight.

The gun fires at 3,000 rounds per minute in short bursts of 10, 30, 60, or 100 rounds, or it can fire in continuous fire mode at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute.[2] A linkless feed system is used.


Performance


The M163 had a fairly limited range from the start. Its 20x102mm round gave it a low effective range of only 1,200 meters (3,900 ft), and its standard air-defense load of HEI-T rounds would self-destruct at approximately 1,800 meters (5,900 ft), a hard limit on range. Additionally, the radar was a range-only set incapable of finding targets.

In US and Israeli service, the VADS has rarely been needed in its intended purpose of providing defense against aerial threats—consequently, the Vulcan gun system was in use throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s primarily as a ground support weapon. For example, VADS guns were used to support American ground assault troops in Panama in 1989 during Operation Just Cause. One Vulcan of B Battery, 2/62 ADA sank a PDF patrol boat.[3] The last combat action the VADS participated in was Operation Desert Storm.


Upgrades and replacement


In order to provide effective battlefield air defense against helicopters equipped with anti-tank missiles that could be fired accurately from ranges of several kilometers, the VADS was slated to be replaced by the M247 Sergeant York DIVADS (Divisional Air Defense System), but that system was canceled due to cost overruns, technical problems and generally poor performance.[4]

In 1984 the improved PIVADS (Product-Improved VADS) system was introduced, providing improvements in the ease of use and accuracy of fire, but the limitations of the 20x102 mm caliber remained. In 1988, the fourth crewmember was issued a Stinger launcher and two rounds.[5]

Eventually, the M163 was replaced in US service by the M1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker, an M2 Bradley with FIM-92 Stinger missiles instead of the standard TOW anti-tank guided missiles: the Stinger missile providing the necessary range to deal with helicopters with anti-tank missiles far out-ranging the 20 mm gun, as well as considerably extending the reach against fixed-wing targets. The final US Army VADS-equipped unit at Fort Riley Kansas completed turn-in of its Vulcans in 1994.


Ammunition


While a large number of 20x102 mm round have been developed, not all were issued to M163 units. M246 HEI-T-SD was developed alongside the system and was the primary anti-air round, with M56 HEI being used for ground support. PIVADS units could use Mk 149 APDS rounds, which greatly increase maximum effective range due to their higher velocity and lack of a self-destruct. M940 may have been issued for use prior to withdrawal from service, though sources are unclear.

Designation Type Projectile Weight (g) Bursting charge (g) Muzzle Velocity (m/s) Description
M56A3/A4HEI102 9 g HE (RDX/wax/Al) and 1.5 g incendiary 1,030Nose fuzed round, no tracer.
M246/A1HEI-T-SD102 8.0 g HE 1,030M56 series derived tracer round, M246 using the same loading as M56A3 and M246A1 being derived from M56A4. Tracer burnout triggers the self-destruct after 3–7 seconds of flight time, roughly 1,800 meters (5,900 ft)
M940MPT-SD105 9 g A-4/RDX/wax 1,050Multi-purpose fuzeless round for ground-based air defence, naval and helicopter applications. The HE charge is initiated by the incendiary charge on the nose on impact. Self-destruct due to tracer burn-through. Penetration: 12.5 mm (0.49 in) RHA at 0-degree impact at 518 m (1,700 ft) range, 6.3 mm (0.25 in) at 60 degrees and 940 m (3,080 ft).
Mk 149APDSprojectile: 93 penetrator 70 none 1,120Spin-stabilized finless sub-caliber round with a 12 mm (0.47 in) depleted uranium penetrator. Penetration: 23 mm (0.91 in) armor at 45 degrees at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and 19 mm (0.75 in) at 45 degrees at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)[6]
M55TP[7] none 1,030Inert training round based on M53 round
M220TP-T none 1,030M55 training round with tracer, 1.9 second burn

Specifications


An M163 during the Persian Gulf War's Operation Desert Shield.
An M163 during the Persian Gulf War's Operation Desert Shield.
An M163 Vulcan anti-aircraft gun system vehicle returns to the vehicle staging area after an exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California.
An M163 Vulcan anti-aircraft gun system vehicle returns to the vehicle staging area after an exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California.
A close-up of the 20 mm Vulcan cannon on the M163 VADS.
A close-up of the 20 mm Vulcan cannon on the M163 VADS.

Variants



History of service


In the Israeli Air Defense Command the "Hovet" (the Israeli designation to the M163 VADS) scored 3 shoot-downs, including the first shoot-down of a jet warplane (a Syrian MiG-21 fighter jet) by the M163 VADS, during Operation Peace for Galilee in 1982.[9] The Israel Defense Forces used the M163 Hovet also for fire support during urban warfare in Operation Peace for Galilee (1982)[10] and Operation Defensive Shield (2002).


Operators


Map with M163 operators in blue with former operators in red
Map with M163 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators



Former operators



See also



References


  1. "شاهد بالصور . اغتنام عشرات الدبابات والآليات السعودية في عملية نصرمن الله بمحور نجران". Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. "Tm 9-2350-300-10 M163 Vads".
  3. "Air Defense Artillery". 1990.
  4. "Sergeant York". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Mk. 149 20mm Penetration".
  7. "Tm 9-2350-300-10 M163 Vads".
  8. "Tm 9-2350-300-10 M163 Vads".
  9. Vulcan in IAF service, Israeli Air Force official website.
  10. Zaloga, Steven J. (2003). Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2): The wars of 1973 to the present. Hong Kong: Concord Publications. p. 23. ISBN 962-361-613-9.



На других языках


[de] M163 Vulcan

Das M163 Vulcan Air Defense System ist ein in den 1960er-Jahren in den Vereinigten Staaten entwickelter Flugabwehrpanzer auf Basis eines modifizierten M113A1-Chassis, welcher mit einem modifizierten M61 Vulcan-Gatling-Geschütz (M168) und einem Feuerleitradar ausgerüstet ist. Das Fahrgestell selbst trägt die Bezeichnung M741.[1]
- [en] M163 VADS

[fr] M163 VADS

Le Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) est un véhicule d'artillerie sol-air (canon antiaérien autopropulsé) employé par l'armée des États-Unis employé en support du véhicule lance-missiles MIM-72 Chaparral. Il est connu également comme M163.

[it] M163 VADS

L'M163 VADS era semovente antiaereo basato su un M113 dotato di cannone M61 Vulcan in una piccola torretta.

[ru] M163

20-мм зенитная самоходная установка M163 (англ. 20mm Self-Propelled Air Defence Gun M163), также известная как Система противовоздушной обороны «Вулкан» (англ. Vulcan Air Defence System) — зенитная самоходная установка США периода 1960-х годов. Была создана Рок-Айлендским арсеналом в 1964—1965 годах путём установки на шасси бронетранспортёра M113 зенитного орудия, разработанного на базе авиационной 20-мм пушки. На башне ЗСУ смонтирована станция наведения AN/VPS-2[en], сопряжённая с зенитным автоматом. Серийное производство M163 осуществлялось компанией General Electric (впоследствии филиал ответственный за выпуск и регламентное обслуживание установок был приобретён General Dynamics) и несколькими ассоциированными подрядчиками с 1967 года, всего было выпущено 671 ЗСУ этого типа. Программа работ по модернизации и продлению срока эксплуатации установок в войсках (Product Improved Vulcan Air Defense System, сокр. PIVADS) реализовывалась компанией Lockheed Electronics[1].



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