FORCETALLY
Loading the evidence…
Preparing your view.
Preparing your view.
At a glance
85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K)larger figure on 1 of 3
M163 VADSlarger figure on 2 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
Length
Single source7.05 m (23 ft 2 in)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | 85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) | M163 VADS |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Anti-aircraft gun Tank gun[source] | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun[source] |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union[source] | United States[source] |
| Wars | World War II[source] | Vietnam War Western Sahara War 1982 Lebanon War Invasion of Panama Persian Gulf War Israeli–Palestinian conflict Iraq War (limited) Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen 2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict[source] |
| Produced | 1939–1945 |
191.5 in (4.86 m)[source]
combat
Single sourcetravel
Single sourcecombat: 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs) travel: 4,500 kg (9,921 lbs)[source]
M163
Single sourceM163A1
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum speed
Single source40 mph (64 km/h)[source]
General Motors 6V53 , 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel
Single sourceGeneral Motors 6V53 , 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel 212 hp (158 kW)[source]
55 Calibers
Single source4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) 55 Calibers[source]
Rate of fire
Single source10-12 rounds per minute[source]
Muzzle velocity
Single source792 m/s (2,598 ft/s)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
1965–1970, 1975–1979, 1982[source] |
| Shell | 85×629 mmR[source] | — |
|---|
| Shell weight | 9.2 kg (20 lb 5 oz)[source] | — |
|---|
| Breech | Vertical sliding-wedge[source] | — |
|---|
| Recoil | Hydro-pneumatic[source] | — |
|---|
| Carriage | 2-axle and 4-wheeled with outriggers[source] | — |
|---|
| Elevation | -3° to 82°[source] | +80° / -5°[source] |
|---|
| Traverse | 360°[source] | — |
|---|
| Source measurement | The 85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) ( Russian : 85-мм зенитная пушка обр. 1939 г. (52-К) ) was an 85 mm (3.3 in) Soviet anti-aircraft gun , developed under guidance of leading Soviet designers M. N. Loginov and G. D. Dorokhin. This gun was successfully used throughout the Second World War against level bombers and other high- and medium-altitude targets. In emergencies they were utilized as powerful anti-tank weapons. The barrel of the 52-K was the basis for the family of 85-mm Soviet tank guns. After the war some 52-Ks were refitted for peaceful purposes as anti-avalanche guns in mountainous terrain.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Virtually every country behind the Iron Curtain received this gun after World War II for their air defense . In the Soviet Union itself, these guns were largely superseded by the 100 and 130 mm guns.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Adopted in 1939, the 85-mm M1939, like its German counterpart the 88-mm Flak 18/36/37 , was meant for air defense . Like many anti-aircraft (AA) guns of the era it was also provided with anti-tank ammunition in the event a tank should appear.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 85-mm M1939 guns were organized into heavy anti-aircraft regiments of 16 guns. The regiments were organized into divisions of the field anti-aircraft forces.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Organization; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage By 1942, the 76.2mm F-34 tank gun of the T-34 medium tank was found to be lacking in range and penetration compared to the German 75 mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun, new mounted on the Stug III and Panzer IV , and markedly inferior to the 88-mm gun of the Tiger I . Military planners directed the design bureaus of both Gen. Vasiliy Grabin and Gen. Fyodor Petrov to modify the 85mm anti-aircraft gun for use as an anti-tank weapon.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Tank guns; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Petrov's bureau developed the D-5 85mm gun. Though much too large for the T-34 turret, it could be mounted in the chassis of the SU-122 self-propelled gun to create a tank destroyer. This was done, and the SU-85 tank destroyer went into production. Meanwhile, efforts were underway to redesign the T-34 turret to make it large enough to accommodate the newly developed gun.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Tank guns; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Grabin, who had been working on a second 85mm gun, the ZiS-53, at Joseph Stalin Factory No. 92 in Gorky near Moscow, was reassigned to the Central Artillery Design Bureau (TsAKB) in Moscow. His project was turned over to 23-year-old A. Savin. A third team led by K. Siderenko was assigned to yet another 85mm gun project, and developed the S-18, to be used in the modified T-34 turret.[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Tank guns; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Savin was put to work modifying Grabin's gun to fit the new turret and incorporate other improvements. His initial was added to his gun's designation in recognition of his contribution: the ZiS-S-53. From T-34/85 Model 1944 onwards, all T-34/85s used Savin's ZiS-S-53. It went into production in the spring of 1944. A new antitank gun was then developed, the 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) .[source]85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) · Tank guns; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage | 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 . 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-defense gun.[source]M163 VADS · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The M163 VADS uses the M168 gun, a variant of the General Dynamics 20 mm (0.79 in) M61A1 rotary cannon , the standard cannon in most U.S. combat aircraft since the 1960s. The gun is mounted on a modified M113A1 vehicle (the M741 carrier). Designed to complement the M48 Chaparral missile system, it is limited to fair-weather operations. The M163 uses a small range-only AN/VPS-2 radar and an M61 optical lead-calculating sight, and is incapable of using the radar to scan an area for targets. The system is suitable for night operations with the use of AN/PVS series night vision sights that can be mounted to the right side of the primary sight.[source]M163 VADS · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The gun fires at 3,000 rounds per minute in short bursts of 10, 30, 60, or 100 rounds, or it can fire in continuous fire mode at a rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. A linkless feed system is used. Its 20x102mm round gave it a low effective range of only 1,200 meters (3,900 ft), and its standard air-defense load of HEI-T rounds would self-destruct at approximately 1,800 meters (5,900 ft), a hard limit on range. The feed drum holds 1,200 rounds ready to fire, with 800 rounds stowed in reserve for the M163, later increased to 1,030 rounds stowed in reserve for the M163A1 and A2.[source]M163 VADS · Specifications; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In 1984, the improved PIVADS (Product-Improved VADS) system was introduced, providing improvements in the ease of use and accuracy of fire, but the limitations of the 20×102 mm caliber remained. In 1988, the fourth crewmember (observer/loader) was issued a Stinger launcher and two rounds. |
|---|
| Country of origin | Soviet Union[source]Inventory Origin column; table 15, row 26, cell 3; revision 1375897637; retrieved 2026-10-02 Soviet Union[source]Inventory Origin column; table 3, row 13, cell 3; revision 1377789247; retrieved 2026-10-02 | — |
|---|
| In service | — | 1968–present[source] |
|---|
| Used by | — | See list of operators[source] |
|---|
| Designer | — | General Electric[source] |
|---|
| Designed | — | 1964[source] |
|---|
| No. built | — | 654[source] |
|---|
| Armor | — | Rolled 5083/5086 H32 aluminium , 29 mm (1.14 in) - 45 mm (1.77 in)[source] |
|---|
| Main armament | — | M168 General Dynamics 20 mm Rotary cannon 2,000 rounds (M163) 2,230 rounds (M163A1/A2)[source] |
|---|
| Suspension | — | torsion bar , 5 road wheels[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Portugal | — | Portugal[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Israel | — | Israel[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Sudan | — | Sudan[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Yemen | — | Yemen[source] |
|---|
| Role | — | self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) primarily[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators | — |
|
|---|
(M163A2) combat weight
Single source24,700 lb (11,200 kg) (M163) 27,140 lb (12,310 kg) (M163A1) 27,542 lb (12,493 kg) (M163A2) combat weight[source]
275 mi (443 km) (M163/A2) 300 mi (480 km) (M163A1)[source]
Eventually, the M163 was replaced in US service by the M1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker , an M2 Bradley with FIM-92 Stinger missiles instead of the standard TOW anti-tank guided missiles : the Stinger missile providing the necessary range to deal with helicopters with anti-tank missiles far out-ranging the 20 mm gun, as well as considerably extending the reach against fixed-wing targets. The final US Army VADS-equipped unit at Fort Riley Kansas completed turn-in of its Vulcans in 1994.[source]M163 VADS · Upgrades and replacement; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage
A close-up of the 20 mm Vulcan cannon on the M163 VADS.[source]M163 VADS · Variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage