M163 VADS vs Skyranger 35: Specs Compared

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AAnti-aircraft guns

M163 VADS

Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

BAnti-aircraft guns

Skyranger 35

Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ( Very short-range air defence )

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

M163 VADSLength

4.86 m

Length source ↗

Skyranger 35turret

5.81 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

14 of 44 rows sourced on both sides

4.86m

5.81mturret

Length

All recorded figures & sources

4.86 m

Length

Single source

191.5 in (4.86 m)^[source]

5.81 m

turret

Single source

Configuration

Details

M163 VADS and Skyranger 35 configuration
Specification	M163 VADS	Skyranger 35
Type	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun^[source]	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ( Very short-range air defence )^[source]
Place of origin	United States^[source]	Switzerland^[source]
In service	1968–present^[source]	—
Used by	See list of operators^[source]	See Operators^[source]

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]	Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (former Oerlikon Contraves)^[source]

Designed	1964^[source]	2004^[source]

Produced	1965–1970, 1975–1979, 1982^[source]	—

No. built	654^[source]	—

Elevation	+80° / -5°^[source]	-7° / +80°^[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]	Oerlikon Revolver Cannon KDG^[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]	—

Source measurement	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.^[source]M163 VADS · Upgrades and replacement; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage 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	A mobile version of the Skyshield air defense system, it is based on a turret equipped with a 35 mm revolver cannon , based on the 35/1000 revolver gun . It can be elevated up to 85° with 360° rotation. The unmanned turret weighs 4.25 tonnes loaded and is controlled by two operators inside the vehicle. The gun is optimized to fire AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition , an airburst round that releases a cloud of sub-projectiles just ahead of a target, enabling it to engage conventional and low, slow and small (LSS) air threats, including UAVs and perform C-RAM duties.^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The cannon can fire single-shots, rapid single shots at 200 rounds per minute, or at a maximum rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. It has an effective range of 4,000 m. Skyranger 35 vehicles have an integrated sensor suite, consisting of an X-band or Ku-band tracking radar with a range out to 30 km, and an EO / IR camera with a laser rangefinder and automatic target tracking. The turret carries 252 rounds. It can be mounted on various wheeled and tracked vehicles. Prototypes were integrated on the Piranha IIIH , Piranha IV and Boxer 8×8 armored personnel carriers and the Leopard 2 tank chassis.^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In 2021, the Skyranger 30 was unveiled, which is a lighter version equipped with a 30 mm cannon and short-range surface-to-air missiles .^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In September 2023, a new version of the Skyranger 35 system was introduced with a redesigned turret and an Oerlikon AMMR active electronically scanned array search radar. This S-band radar has a detection range of 5 km for small drones, and 20 km for fighter-sized aircraft.^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

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.^[source]M163 VADS · Upgrades and replacement; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

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

A mobile version of the Skyshield air defense system, it is based on a turret equipped with a 35 mm revolver cannon , based on the 35/1000 revolver gun . It can be elevated up to 85° with 360° rotation. The unmanned turret weighs 4.25 tonnes loaded and is controlled by two operators inside the vehicle. The gun is optimized to fire AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition , an airburst round that releases a cloud of sub-projectiles just ahead of a target, enabling it to engage conventional and low, slow and small (LSS) air threats, including UAVs and perform C-RAM duties.^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The cannon can fire single-shots, rapid single shots at 200 rounds per minute, or at a maximum rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. It has an effective range of 4,000 m. Skyranger 35 vehicles have an integrated sensor suite, consisting of an X-band or Ku-band tracking radar with a range out to 30 km, and an EO / IR camera with a laser rangefinder and automatic target tracking. The turret carries 252 rounds. It can be mounted on various wheeled and tracked vehicles. Prototypes were integrated on the Piranha IIIH , Piranha IV and Boxer 8×8 armored personnel carriers and the Leopard 2 tank chassis.^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In 2021, the Skyranger 30 was unveiled, which is a lighter version equipped with a 30 mm cannon and short-range surface-to-air missiles .^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In September 2023, a new version of the Skyranger 35 system was introduced with a redesigned turret and an Oerlikon AMMR active electronically scanned array search radar. This S-band radar has a detection range of 5 km for small drones, and 20 km for fighter-sized aircraft.^[source]Skyranger 35 · Design; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Manufacturer	—	Rheinmetall Air Defence AG Rheinmetall Italia SpA (final assembly in Italy to escape Swiss export laws)^[source]

Developed from	—	Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun^[source]

Developed into	—	Rheinmetall Oerlikon Skyranger 30^[source]

Shell	—	AHEAD ammunition ( programmable airburst ammunition )^[source]

Calibre	—	35×228mm^[source]

Traverse	—	360°^[source]

Guidance system	—	360° AESA radar ( S-band (IEEE) ), an electro-optical sensor package (HD camera, cooled MWIR HD camera), and a laser rangefinder^[source]

Reported operators	Reported operator · Chile Reported operator · Ecuador Reported operator · Jordan Reported operator · Morocco Reported operator · Saudi Arabia Reported operator · Thailand Reported operator · Houthis	—