What do you do when your target is hidden behind a wall or dug into a foxhole? Until now, you would have to resort to a rocket, mortar or grenade, with a definite chance for collateral damage. That was before the development of the XM25 ‘Individual Airburst Weapon System’, an effective airburst grenade launcher rifle designed to fire 25 mm grenades. These grenades can be set to explode right in mid-air after they have traveled a particular distance.
The mini-grenades are a nice touch but what really separates this weapon is the aiming system. The weapon com*bines a ther*mal optic, day-sight, laser range finder, com*pass and infrared illu*mi*na*tor with a fire-control sys*tem that wire*lessly trans*mits the exact range of the tar*get into the 25mm round’s fuse before fir*ing. Thus, a soldier can aim the XM25 at a wall con*ceal*ing a sniper, for exam*ple, but “dial in” or adjust the dis*tance by (+/-) 3 meters above the tar*get. When fired, the round will explode above the enemy’s posi*tion, essen*tially going around the obstruc*tion.
The system is under development by Heckler & Koch and Alliant Techsystems (ATK). The target acquisition/fire control is developed by L-3 IOS Brashear. The weapon costs about $25,000 each, but experts are quick to point out that a fully-loaded M4 for optics and point*ers costs pretty close to $30,000. Each ATK-made 25mm round costs about $25.
Specifications
Caliber: Low-velocity 25 × 40 mm grenade
Thermobaric
Flechette
Training
High-explosive airbursting round
Non-lethal
Armor Piercing
Door breaching
Operation: Gas operated semi-automatic
System weight: 14 lb (6.4 kg)
Target acquisition/fire control (XM104)
Weight: 2.54 lb (1.15 kg)
4x thermal sight with zoom
2x direct view optical sight
Ballistic computer
Digital compass
Laser rangefinder
Ammunition fuze setter
Environmental sensors
History
In the summer of 2010, the United States Army began field testing the XM25 in Afghanistan, with an initial per unit cost of the early models range from US$30,000 to $35,000. The Army plans to purchase 12,500 XM25s in 2011 at a cost of $25,000 each[3] and have them fielded by 2012, enough for one XM25 system in each infantry squad and special forces team.[4][5] According to U.S. Army project manager for new weapons, Colonel Douglas Tamilio, the rounds for the XM25 will cost about $24 apiece.
Alliant Techsystems has indicated that the rifle may later use bullets with smaller explosive charges which will stun opponents rather than killing them.
Five of the weapons were deployed with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in October of 2010, along with 1,000 hand-made air-burst rounds. The soldiers reported that the weapon was extremely effective at killing or neutralizing enemy combatants firing on US troops from covered positions. The US troops have nicknamed the weapon, "The Punisher."[7] First contact was 3 December 2010. As of February 2011, the weapon has been fired 55 times at a price of $1000 each, but price is expected to be $35 per shot when in full production, scheduled from 2012.
Program status
April 2005 - First prototypes are delivered to the U.S. Army for field-testing.
September 2005 - Test firing by regular troops at Grafenwöhr Training Area.
Summer 2009 - Field tests in Iraq or Afghanistan.
November 2010 - Preliminary deployment in Afghanistan.
3 December 2010 - First contact[8]
2013 - Scheduled to begin low-rate initial production
XM25 "Individual Airburst Weapon System"
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