The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS), officially Gun, Air Defense Artillery, Self-Propelled 20-mm, M163, is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) primarily used by the United States Army.

It was developed as a state-of-the-art mobile Anti-Aircraft gun system to replace two systems, the M163 20mm Vulcan seen as very short range and the longer range M48 Chaparral missile systems.

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.

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 …

Jul 12, 2025 · The M163 Vulcan Air Defense Systems (VADS) was a key component of the United States Army’s air defense arsenal during the Cold War, designed to counter low-flying aircraft and …

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 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 …

The VULCAN is a 2Clmm Gatling type automatic weapon mounted on a modified M113A1 armored personnel carrier. The gun has a low rate of sustained fire of 1,000 rounds per minute and a …

The M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) combines the firepower of the USAF standard air gun M61 Vulcan with the "go anywhere" envelope of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

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.