Air defense / Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns / VDAA
VDAA
General Facts
- TYPE
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun - ORIGIN
France - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1972 - 1974 - DESIGNER
Panhard
Dassault Electronique - PRODUCTION
1975 - ? - PRODUCERS
France - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Low cost system
Optional radar guidance
Good mobility
Limited range
Introduction
The VDAA system is a French system that converts armored personnel carriers into a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. VDAA stands for Véhicule de Défense Anti-Aérienne, French for air defense vehicle. In an updated form this system led to the development of the Sinai self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
Layout
Most VDAA systems are based on a modified M3 armored personnel carrier. Four outriggers are fitted to the vehicle to provide a stable firing platform. The VAB chassis was also used as a firing platform.
Firepower
The standard TA-20 turret of the VDAA system is fitted with two 20mm Oerlikon autocannon. The cyclic rate of fire is either 200 or 1.000 rounds per minute per barrel. An AAT-52 or AAT-NF1 machine gun is coaxially mounted and used for self-defense. There also is a TA-23 turret variant which uses two 23mm ZU-23 autocannon instead.
Fire control
A RA-20 search and tracking radar can be installed at the rear of the VDAA turret. It is usually present in one out of three systems, although up to four vehicles can be supported by a single radar equipped vehicle. An optical sight is used for targeting and target range and speed are fed automatically into the targeting computer. Optional equipment includes an IFF system, laser range finder and TV tracking system.
Protection
The level of protection depends on which chassis the VDAA system is installed. Most APC's provide protection against small arms fire and shell splinters. The VDAA system is operated under full armor protection.
Mobility
The level of mobility depends on which chassis the VDAA system is installed. The weight of the system is limited and does not limit mobility. When fitted on the M3 chassis it can still travel up to 90 km/h on roads.
Users
Although developed in France the VDAA was never adopted by French forces. It has been exported to several nations with close ties to France and remains in operational use.
M3 VDAA
The M3 VDAA is the most common application of the VDAA system. The VDAA turret is mounted in the center of the French M3 armored personnel carrier. Four jacks are fitted to provide a stable firing platform. Usually one in two or three vehicles is fitted with a RA-20S search radar on top of the VDAA turret.
- Specifications:
- M3 VDAA
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| Length | 4.45 m |
| Width | 2.4 m |
| Height | 3.00 m (without radar) |
| Ground clearance | 0.35 m |
| Weight | 7.2 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 4x4, 11.00 x 16 tires |
| Turn radius | 5.25 m |
| Engine | Panhard Model 4 HD V4 petrol, 90 hp at 4.700 rpm |
| Power ratio | 12.5 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 6 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 90 km/h |
| Fuel | 165 L |
| Range | 1.000 km on road |
| Wall | 0.3 m |
| Trench | 0.8 m |
| Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel, 8 to 12 mm |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
| Remarks | RA-20 E-band radar (optional) |
| Armament | 20mm Oerlikon (2x) 7.62mm AAT-NF1 coaxial machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 20mm Oerlikon (2x) 600 rounds, all ready to fire -5 to +85° elevation, 90°/s powered 360° traverse, 60°/s powered |
| Weapon2 | 7.5mm AAT-52 or 7.62mm AAT-NF1 coaxial machine gun 200 rounds, all ready to fire traverse and elevation as main armament |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |
VAB VDAA
The VAB 4x4 and 6x6 can also be used to mount the VDAA system. Due to the stiffness of the chassis no outriggers are needed. Usually one in two or three vehicles is fitted with a RA-20S search radar on top of the VDAA turret.
- Specifications:
- VAB VDAA
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| Length | 5.98 m |
| Width | 2.49 m |
| Height | 2.06 m (hull top) |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
| Weight | 14.2 t combat load |
| Ground pressure | ? |
| Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 6x6, 1.5 + 1.5 m wheelbase, 14.00 x20 tires |
| Turn radius | 9 m |
| Engine | MAN D 2356 HM72 V6 diesel, 235 hp at 2.200 rpm |
| Power ratio | 16.5 hp/t |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 1 reverse |
| Speed | 92 km/h on road 8 km/h in water |
| Fuel | ? |
| Range | 1.000 km on road |
| Wall | 0.4 m |
| Trench | ? |
| Gradient | 50% gradient, 30% slope |
| Fording | Amphibious |
| Armor | Steel |
| NBC equipment | No |
| Night vision | No |
|---|---|
| Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
| Remarks | RA-20 E-band radar (optional) |
| Armament | 20mm Oerlikon (2x) 7.62mm AAT-NF1 coaxial machine gun |
| Weapon1 | 20mm Oerlikon (2x) 600 rounds, all ready to fire -5 to +85° elevation, 90°/s powered 360° traverse, 60°/s powered |
| Weapon2 | 7.5mm AAT-52 or 7.62mm AAT-NF1 coaxial machine gun 200 rounds, all ready to fire traverse and elevation as main armament |
| Weapon3 | - |
| Weapon4 | - |
| Weapon5 | - |
| Weapon6 | - |