M163 VADS

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Specifications:

Crew:

Driver; Gunner; 2x Troopers;

Top speed:

64 km/h

Armament:

1x 20mm M168 Vulcan rotary cannon;

Brick count:

900

Cost:

7,104u

How to use:

Sight illumination - X; Fire extinguish system - J; Frontal light - L; Driver's IR light - Q;

History of M163 VADS:

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 M61 Vulcan rotary cannon, the standard cannon in most U.S. combat aircraft since the 1960s.

From the beginning, the main drawback of the M163 was its small caliber and lightweight shells, which limited its effective range. Early M50 series ammunition exacerbated the situation, but the M163 was still comparable to the contemporary Soviet ZSU-23-4; although the Russian ZSU fired a larger shell (23 mm rather than 20 mm), the M163 had a higher muzzle velocity providing a flatter trajectory at close ranges, shorter time of flight and thus better accuracy. At increased distance this situation changed, since heavier 23mm shells degenerated/decelerated slower, and therefore reached far targets faster and with less drop.

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.