M 163-A1 Vulcan '68

The M163 Vulcan self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was designed as a complement to the M48 Chaparral surface-to-air missile system. It entered service with the US Army in 1968. Throughout the late 80s and early 90s the Vulcan was mainly used as a ground support weapon, as it was no longer effective against modern fast moving fixed wing aircraft. The Vulcan was slated to be replaced in early 1980s by the M247 Sergeant York SPAAG, however this project was cancelled. Eventually it was replaced by the M1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker. Current operators of the M163 Vulcan are Albania, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Morocco, Portugal, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia.