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
Wow, the camo system works very well.
The batteries never go dead on an AK-47.
We shall see. I hope it is reliable and rugged and can be produced in numbers as such.
“The batteries never go dead on an AK-47”
True that. Same with my EOTech. Cool device, but it needs a battery.
Aye. And the gladius allowed the Romans to take over the world.
So we'll just have to settle for killing the enemy holding the AK-47, by using every high-tech device we have that will protect our soldiers from harm, including supplying them with batteries.
More of a specialized weapon though. Not a general use field rifle.
(Just kidding, I hope!)
In order to provide for a 700 meter area hit, my guess is that some muzzle elevation would be required, and based on the look of the field of vision of the optics I’m not sure that the target would be in view.
That, or the velocity of the projectile is....completely remarkable.
It’s still interesting, however.
Wait until the Clintonites and Zerobots sell this technology to the Chinese.
Really good weapon, it would seem.
Here’s another weapon someone linked to on another thread.
This would be a great ‘survival’ weapon....
The AA-12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ebtj1jR7c
Yes, as a part of a squad it could prove invaluable.
I wish it had a larger magazine, though...
We still issue the M203 with infantry squads, the M-79 is making a comeback and the USMC has a rotary 40mm launcher.
I think it has definite possibility as a dedicated, general-purpose weapon.
However, when it was part of the OICW, it had a 5.56mm rifle in the equation. I wouldn’t want to be an infantry man without a rifle. I suspect they’ll also carry a carbine.
When you boot up the gun, a stupid Apple logo lights up the place so as to give your position away and drain half of it's power.
yeah...only 5 rnds. :( But I see it used more as a hybrid .50 cal/granade launcher than a field rifle?
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