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Air defense / Anti-aircraft guns / M167 Vulcan

M167 Vulcan

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Towed anti-aircraft gun

  • ORIGIN
    United States

  • NICKNAMES
    Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS )

  • DESIGNED
    1964 - 1965

  • DESIGNER
    Rock Island Arsenal

  • PRODUCTION
    1967 - ?

  • PRODUCERS
    United States

  • QUANTITY
    A total of 626 produced

  • UNIT COST
    $ 5.380 per unit in 1975

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    High rate of fire
    Powered and assisted aiming
    Limited effective range
    No radar guidance

Introduction

The M167 Vulcan is a towed 20mm anti-aircraft gun of US origin. It was developed in the mid 1960's as a replacement for the quad 12.7mm M55. The M167 is fitted with the same 20mm Vulcan six barrel minigun as the tracked M163.

Layout

The M167 Vulcan is a towed anti-aircraft gun that is armed with a six barrel 20mm M168 minigun. A two wheel carriage carries the turret and auxiliary power unit. The carriage is stabilized by two outriggers at the rear and a jack at the front. A single operator is seated on the weapon with the ammunition to his left, the sights and gun in front and a range only radar to his right.

Firepower

The M167 is armed with the M61 minigun, designated M168, that fires the 20x102mm round. The cyclic rate of fire is a selectable 1.000 or 3.000 rpm. The effective anti-aircraft range is 1.2 km and ground targets can be engaged up to 2.2 km. The range only radar aids the manual targeting significantly, but is inferior to automated targeting.

Mobility

The M167 is towed by a truck that also carries the crew. The M167 is not able to fire on the move. A similar turret was installed on the M113 armored personnel carrier which resulted in the M163 Vulcan self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. The M163 has a much better mobility than the towed M167.

Users

The main operator of the M167 was the United States. It was used from 1967 to 1994, when it was replaced by the Stinger man portable SAM system. The M167 was also widely exported to nations with ties with the USA, mainly in the Middle East, Asia, South America and Africa.

Variants

M167 Vulcan

The M167 Vulcan is a towed anti-aircraft gun that is armed with a six barrel 20mm M168 minigun. The M167A1 is similar to the original M167. The M167A2 features improved sighting system with some digitalized components. The M167A2 is also known as the PIVADS, short for Product Improved Vulcan Air Defense System. Some export systems were not fitted with a radar. These systems are known as the Basic Vulcan.

TypeTowed anti-aircraft gun
Crew1
Ordnance20mm M168 minigun
Elevation-5 to +80°, powered
Traverse360°, powered
Rate of fire1.000 or 3.000 rpm cyclic
Range1.2 km vs aircraft, 2.2 km vs ground targets
Carriage2 wheel carriage with two outriggers and one jack
Weight1.588 kg
Length4.91 m (travelling)
Width1.98 m (travelling)
Height1.65 (firing position), 2.04 m (travelling)
Towing vehicle4x4 or 6x6 truck
Speed?
RemarksAPU fitted for powered elevation and traverse

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