The M163 provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units against low-flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It replaced the M42 Duster as the standard American armored light air …

Installed onto the common M113 chassis with a tracking radar, the design became known as the M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS). The M163 remained in use with the US military until replaced …

The M163 VADS was a cold war mass produced self propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the M113 armored personal carrier. It entered service in the Vietnam war and stayed in service until the 1991 …

Jul 2, 2019 · Detailing the technical specifications, development, and operational history of the M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun including pictures.

Jan 7, 2021 · The M163 is a self propelled variant of the General Dynamics 20mm M61 rotary cannon mounted in most US aircraft since the 1960s used for air defense.

The M163 utilized a modified version of the US Air Force's M61 Vulcan six-barreled 20mm rotary cannon. It was installed in an open-topped gun mount M157 on a modified version of the M113A1 …

Jul 12, 2025 · The M163 was developed by integrating the M61 Vulcan into a modified M113 armored personnel carrier (APC) chassis, a proven platform known for its mobility and reliability.

The U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA) branch has retired its M163 Vulcan tracked and towed 20mm Gatling gun systems, replacing them with Avenger HMMWVs with Stinger SAMs.

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 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) is a self-propelled, radar-directed gun air defense system that was a mainstay of the United States Army's air defense capabilities for several decades.