The M163 VADS (Vulcan Air Defense System) is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft system of the Cold War era. The car entered service in 1968. The car was equipped with a General Motors 6V53 diesel engine with a capacity of 212 hp. It was armed with a 20mm General Dynamics M168 Vulcan automatic cannon. The M163 VADS was developed to complement the M48 Chapparal anti-aircraft missile system. In order to reduce design work, it was decided to adapt many nodes and elements from the design of the M113 armored personnel carrier. By the way, the chassis designation was changed to M741. The properly adapted M61 Vulcan gun was chosen as the main armament. Despite the use of many proven and successful elements, the M163 was not a very successful weapon system. It was quickly found to be ineffective against modern jet aircraft. The system was at best comparable to the Soviet ZSU-23-4, although it was inferior to it in many respects and clearly inferior to the German Gepard system. As a result, it quickly began to be used against manpower and lightly armored vehicles. In the course of production, several versions of the development were created. The first was the M163A1, which used an adapted chassis from the M113A1 transporter rather than the M113. The M163A2 version was created in the same way, by adapting the chassis of the M113A2 vehicle. Eventually, the M163 was phased out in favor of the M1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker. The M163 was exported to several countries, including Chile, Ecuador, Israel and South Korea. They also took part in some armed conflicts, mainly in the Vietnam War (1964/65-1975) or in Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991). M163 Vulcan is an American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the M113 chassis. It was built in the mid-1960s, and series production began in 1968. The M163 consists of a slightly modified M113A2 chassis and a modification of the M61A1 Vulcan gun. Since 1984, the US Army has an improved system of this weapon called Vulcan (PIVADS). It has a more advanced fire control system and the ability to fire sub-caliber Mk.149 ammunition. The M163 saw service in the Vietnam War, mainly as cover for convoys, and in the Israeli intervention in Lebanon in 1982. Especially there, they proved to be very effective against enemy aircraft. This is a successful self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. It is used by many militaries, including the US, Israeli, Philippine, South Korean, and Tunisian. The only, more serious, drawback of the M163 is the inability to fire under any weather conditions. Technical data: length: 4.86 m, width: 2.85 m, height: 2.74 m, weight: 13.3 t, engine power: 215 hp. radius of action up to 2600 m.
