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BAir defence
series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems
At a glance
Measured figures
Length
Single source191.5 in (4.86 m)[source]
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | M163 VADS | Sky Bow |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun[source] | series of surface-to-air anti-ballistic missile and anti-aircraft defense systems[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | — |
| In service | 1968–present[source] | The TK-2, TK-3 and TK-4 are in service with the Military of the Republic of China[source] |
| Used by | See list of operators[source] | Military of the Republic of China[source] |
Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Length
Single source5.673 m[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
5.498 m[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Diameter
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Diameter
Single source0.42 m[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
0.4 m[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
M163
Single sourceM163A1
Single source(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]
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Mass
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Mass
Single sourcecommander, gunner, loader, driver
Single source4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)[source]
Operational; M163A1
Single sourceOperational; M163/A2
Single source275 mi (443 km) (M163/A2) 300 mi (480 km) (M163A1)[source]
Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Range
Single sourceSky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Range
Single sourceGeneral Motors 6V53 , 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel
Single sourceGeneral Motors 6V53 , 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel 212 hp (158 kW)[source]
Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited · Warhead mass
Single source90 kg[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Wars |
|---|
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] |
| — |
| Designer | General Electric[source] | — |
|---|
| Designed | 1964[source] | — |
|---|
| Produced | 1965–1970, 1975–1979, 1982[source] | — |
|---|
| No. built | 654[source] | — |
|---|
| Elevation | +80° / -5°[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] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | — | National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST)[source] |
|---|
| Role | — | surface-to-air missile[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited surface-to-air missile[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Propulsion | — | Single-stage dual-thrust solid-fuel rocket motor[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Solid-fuel rocket motor[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Launch platform | — | Underground silos and mobile launch vehicles[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited Towed quad launchers[source]Sky Bow III only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Guidance | — | Inertial with mid-course guidance update from ground-based phased array radar, Active radar homing ( ARH ) for terminal guidance[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Introduced | — | 1997[source]Sky Bow II only; retired Sky Bow I values not inherited |
|---|
| Country of origin | — | Taiwan[source]Inventory Origin column; table 5, row 4, cell 2; revision 1370505017; retrieved 2026-09-30 |
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| Reported operators |
| — |
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