Air defense / Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns / M163 Vulcan
M163 Vulcan
General Facts
- TYPE
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun - ORIGIN
United States - NICKNAMES
Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS)
Product Improved VADS (PIVADS)
Hovet (Israeli service) - DESIGNED
1964 - 1966 - DESIGNER
General Electric - PRODUCTION
1968 - 1982 - PRODUCERS United States - General Electric
- QUANTITY
A total 671 produced - UNIT COST
$ 87.000 per unit for M163 in 1974
$ 113.000 per unit for M163 in 1975 - CHARACTERISTICS
High rate of fire
Effective in ground support
Limited production costs
Limited effective range
No radar guidance
Gunner exposed to small arms fire
Introduction
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. The M163 packs powerful armament that is only of limited use against aircraft due to the lack of automated fire control.
Layout
The M163 can be considered a M167 towed Vulcan system mounted onto a modified M113 armored personnel carrier chassis. The one man turret is power operated and is fitted with a six barrel 20mm M168 Vulcan autocannon. The chassis has been modified with a suspension lock to provide a stable firing platform and with sponsons to add buoyancy.
Firepower
The 20mm M168 Vulcan autocannon is the only armament of the M163. It has a selective rate of fire of 1.000 or 3.000 rpm and usually 1.900 rounds of 20x102mm ammunition are carried. The maximum anti-aircraft range is 1.2 km, the ground support range is 3 km and the slant range is 4.5 km. With the PIVADS upgrade and APDS ammunition the anti-aircraft range is increased to 2.6 km.
Fire control
The original M163 was fitted with the VADS system with manual guidance using optics. The PIVADS upgrade initiated in 1982 adds a 5 km range only radar, a lead computing sight with microprocessor and improved electric drive system. Even with this upgrade the M163 is a clear weather only system with limited effectiveness against fast aircraft.
Protection
The aluminum armor protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters. The turret is open and during operation the gunner is partly exposed. An NBC system is fitted but smoke grenade dischargers are not.
Mobility
The tracked chassis based on the M113 provides a good mobility, especially in rough terrain. A 212 hp Detriot diesel engine is fitted. As with the M113 the M163 cannot keep up with the M2 Bradley and M1 Abrams in the field. The sponsons fitted on the hull side add buoyancy and make the M163 amphibious by compensating for the additional weight over the original M113.
Users
The M163 was acquired in large numbers by the US Army and was exported to several nations. It has been used on conflicts on several occasions, mainly as a ground support weapon. In US service it has been replaced by the Avenger. The Avenger is much more effective against aircraft but of limited use as a ground support weapon. The M163 remains in use with several US allies.
M163 Vulcan
M163: Original production version based on the a M113 chassis derivative called the M741.
M163A1: M163 with modifications to bring the chassis up to M113A1 level. Many were upgraded to PIVADS (Product Improved VADS) by improved targeting equipment including a lead computing sight with microprocessor and range only radar.
M163A2: M163A1 with modifications to bring the chassis up to M113A2 level. If fitted the PIVADS upgrade was retained.
The Vulcan turret has also been mounted on several other chassis. These include the South Korean K263 that is based on the AIFV chassis and the V-150 Commando as used by the Saudi Arabian national guard.
- Specifications:
- M163A1 Vulcan
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 (commander, driver, gunner, assistant) |
| Length | 4.86 m |
| Width | 2.85 m overall |
| Height | 2.74 m overall |
| Ground clearance | 0.41 m |
| Weight | 12.3 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | 0.61 kg/cm2 |
| Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, drive sprocket front, idler rear, 2.16 m track, 2.67 m length, |
| Turn radius | ? |
| Engine | Detroit Diesel 6V-52 6-cylinder water cooled diesel, 215 hp at 2.800 rpm |
| Power ratio | 17.5 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | 6 forward, 2 reverse |
| Speed | 68 km/h on road, 6 km/h in water |
| Fuel | 360 L |
| Range | 480 km |
| Wall | 0.6 m |
| Trench | 1.7 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Aluminum, 12 to 38 mm |
| NBC equipment | Yes |
| Night vision | Yes, driver only |
|---|---|
| Smoke | No |
| Remarks | 5 km range only radar |
| Armament | 20mm M168 Vulcan minigun |
| Weapon1 | 20mm M168 Vulcan minigun in turret 2.280 rounds, 1.180 reary to fire -5 to +80° elevation, 45°/s powered 360° traverse, 60°/s powered non-stabilized |
| Weapon2 | - |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
Machbet
The Machbet is an Israeli modification of the M163 Vulcan. The Machbet adds a pod with four FIM-92 Stinger missiles. These greatly increase the engagement range and have a much better effectiveness against fast aircraft. The chassis features many modification common to the M113 in Israeli service. Some are for instance fitted with Zelda mesh armor.
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