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Ground Vehicles
XM246
VI
Rank
AB
8.3
RB
8.3
SB
8.3
Battle rating
USA
Game nation
SPAA
Main role
135,000
RP
Research
380,000
SL
Purchase
General information

The XM246 was an American experimental self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed by General Dynamics in the 1970s. The project began in 1973 as part of the Gun Low Altitude Air Defense System (GLAADS) programme, intended to create both towed and self-propelled systems for engaging low-flying targets. When GLAADS was cancelled, development was halted.

In 1977, the US Army launched the DIVAD (Division Air Defense) competition. General Dynamics entered with an updated prototype, adapted to the new requirements: the XM246 mounted two Swiss-made Oerlikon KDA 35 mm automatic cannons, paired with a Delco electro-optical sighting system and a fire-control radar derived from the naval AN/VPS-2. Once the competition was narrowed down to two finalists – General Dynamics and Ford – their prototypes received the designations XM246 and XM247. Each company was tasked with producing two pre-production vehicles for final trials in 1980. Ford’s prototype was ultimately declared the winner. The Army rejected the XM246 primarily due to its asymmetric sighting and tracking layout. The offset positioning of the optics and radar created problems with target tracking, making it difficult to hit fast-moving aircraft crossing the line of sight at sharp angles.

Introduced in Update 2.45 “Hornet’s Sting”, the XM246's most distinctive feature is its pair of high-fire-rate 35 mm cannons, the same type used on the Gepard, giving it strong performance against both air and ground targets. Its M48-based chassis provides some protection for the crew against aircraft ordnance and shell fragments. However, the vehicle’s large, lightly armoured turret with exposed side ammunition stowage makes it vulnerable. While the XM246 closely resembles its competitor, the M247, the latter is equipped with proximity-fuzed fragmentation rounds that give it a notable advantage when engaging aircraft and helicopters.



Survivability and armour
Armour front / side / back
Hull 110 / 76 / 25 mm
Turret 25 / 7 / 7 mm
Visibility 192 %
Crew 3 persons
Support systems
Mobility
Max speed
Forward 4852 km/h
Backward 1112 km/h
Power-to-weight ratio 13.812.224.119.6 hp/t
Engine power 7506631,3121,065 hp
Weight 54.4 t
Optics
Gunner
Commander
Driver
Optics zoom
11.1x–12.0x
Optical device
Armaments
2 x 35 mm Oerlikon KDA cannon
Ammunition 640 rounds
Belt capacity 320 rounds
Fire rate 550 shots/min
Vertical guidance -10 / 85°
Turret Rotation Speed basic crew → aces
Horizontal 6353.6109.779.39076.5156.7113.2 °/s
Vertical 2116.86441302491.558.6 °/s

BeltBelt fillingArmor penetration (mm) at a distance:
10 m100 m500 m1000 m1500 m2000 m
API-T/HEI-T686657473932
HEI-T/HEI-T/HEI-T/API-T686657473932
API-T/API-T/API-T/HEI-T686657473932
7.62 mm M60D machine gun
Ammunition 1,800 rounds
Belt capacity 100 rounds
Reload basic crew → aces
10.4 → 8 s
Fire rate 650 shots/min
Vertical guidance -5 / 30°
Horizontal guidance -120 / 180°
Turret Rotation Speed basic crew → aces
Horizontal 6353.6109.779.39076.5156.7113.2 °/s
Vertical 6350.4192.11239072274.5175.7 °/s

BeltBelt fillingArmor penetration (mm) at a distance:
10 m100 m500 m1000 m1500 m2000 m
AP/T13127320
Economy
Repair cost Basic → Reference
AB 4,825 → 6,659 SL
RB 4,118 → 5,683 SL
SB 5,003 → 6,904 SL
Crew training 110,000 SL
Experts 380,000 SL
Aces 1,400 GE
Research Aces 830,000 RP
Reward multiplier AB / RB / SB
140 / 190 / 220 % SL
208 % RP
Total cost of modifications 112,500 RP
194,400 SL
Talisman cost 2,300 GE

Research order:

Mobility
Protection
Firepower
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