Posted on 05/27/2009 10:37:30 AM PDT by Reaganesque
May 27, 2009 The XM25 Individual Air Burst Weapon is looking likely to be the shoulder-fired weapon of choice for the US military to kill or neutralize hidden targets. Due for field test this summer, the lightweight XM-25 "smart weapon" uses High Explosive Air-Burst (HEAB) munitions that can be programmed to detonate at a precise point in the air without the need to impact, spelling trouble for elusive targets, be they behind a wall, inside a building or in a foxhole.
Developed jointly by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch and the US company Alliant Techsystems (ATK Corporation), the XM-25 is a semi-automatic, shoulder-fired weapon with a five-round magazine and weighs in at around 14 pounds (6.3kg) – about the same weight as an M-16 with a 203 grenade launcher. The weapon's XM116 integral fire system provides the weapon with its precision and is capable of controlling individually each of the 25mm rounds in real time. Based on a thermal optic, day-sight, laser range finder, compass and infrared light, the system can precisely measure the distance to the target and program each round to explode close to the mark via the wireless connection. Capable of hitting a point target at 500 meters and area targets at 700 meters with a range of munitions including HEAB, anti-personnel, two types of non-lethal munitions – blunt and agent dispersing airburst - plus armor piercing, and door breaching munitions, this is one very nasty piece of ordinance and a must have on any soldiers list.
In a nutshell, it operates with the soldier sighting the target and the advanced laser rangefinder transmitting range information to the chambered 25mm round. The soldier then essentially points and fires. After the round leaves the chamber and moves towards its target, the system precisely measures the distance traveled and detonates it at exactly the right moment to deliver maximum effectiveness. ATK says that the XM25 increases the warfighter’s probability of hit-to-kill performance by up to 500 percent over existing weapons and extends the effective range of the soldier’s individual weapon to more than 500 meters.
Another high-tech weapon recently field tested by the military is the Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun (LW50MG). Unlike the XM25, which doesn’t offer a weight advantage, the LW50MG weights in at 64 pounds (29kg) complete with tripod, i.e., half the weight of the M-2 .50 caliber machine gun. With 60% less recoil than the M-2, the LW50MG will also offer greater accuracy and speed than the veteran M-2.
For more information visit ATK and Heckler and Koch
If you’ve had anything to do with the huge advances in battery technology the last few years, thank you.
"What's dat you got dare meathead? A High Explosive Air Burst Ordinance dare? A HEABO? Ha, haha..."
What’s the red button do?
This appears to be a expensive solution in search of a sufficiently profitable problem.
Only very, very peripherally. Did some work on microfuel cells a while back.
Where are you getting that stat of 100K rounds per kill?
Back in the Civil War, 100K rounds was one heck of a lot of ammo, and they had some hugely expensive engagements in a single day - I have to believe that the RPK in the Civil War was much lower than 100K. The engagement distances were much lower, too.
I can believe it from WWI onwards, when we had belt-fed weapons - I can believe that easily. But pre-belt? I dunno.
So adding the “replay” feature is primarily a function of software, albeit not with the Zorg capability of shifting the aim? How far off can the ZF-1 be?
It’s very possible that I misremember the start date of that statistic.
That’s “ordnance.”
Still, I’ve seen this sucker on TV, very lethal. The demonstrator popped one through a window to a room at a hundred yards and it exploded about six feet inside.
With this there’s almost no such thing as “cover” anymore.
This is what I use and it works just fine for the old curmudgeon:
Bushmaster M4 A3
Better not have any recoil if he’s going to fire it like that...
I’m NOT saying you’re wrong — I’m just saying that my understanding of the rate of fire that could be sustained by troops post-repeating rifle and then post-Maxim took a HUGE leap upwards. You could well be right, and those guys in the Civil War could reload their weapons with paper cartridges far faster than we currently believe possible....
No offense taken. I’m inclined to think you are correct. Your reasoning is flawless as near as I can tell.
At least you asked.
That thing is ugly as sin.
Where do you mount the bayonet?
Clearly, these guys have been playing too much DOOM.
That photo reminds me of something: I was set up at the bench just to the right of that one a few months ago (unless I’m terribly mistaken, that’s the 50-yard range at American). I was trying out my new Bushmaster and there was some guy at the pictured bench with an AK-47. Now, not having spent much time around Kalashnikovs, I didn’t realize the force at which they eject the spent brass. After the other shooter’s friend noticed my efforts at dodging, they moved to the other side of the partition. It didn’t help much. I ended up having to move to the other side of the partition at my bench to avoid the incoming brass!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.