Posted on 04/14/2016 7:43:06 AM PDT by huldah1776
The U.S. Army is about to acquire a new weapon that could dramatically impact infantry warfare.
The U.S. Army is introducing a new shoulder-fired weapon that has the potential to change infantry tactics and revolutionize infantry warfare in a way unseen since the Battle of Königgrätz in July 1866. That battle, which marked the beginning of the end of the line infantry attack, saw Austrian troops carrying muzzle-loaders outgunned by Prussian infantrymen carrying breech-loading needle guns.
According to its fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget request, the U.S. Army will produce 105 so-called XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) weapons, a precision-guided grenade launcher, and distribute them among specially trained soldiers. “Accordingly, the army has requested $9.764 million in FY 2017 for the program and hopes for $14.852 million in FY 2018, $24.930 million in FY 2019, $32.158 million in FY 2020, and $25.798 million in FY 2021,” IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly reports.
For now, not much will change on the battlefield for dismounted soldiers in combat. However, once the weapon is distributed more widely at the squad level throughout the U.S. military, the impact of the XM25 could be revolutionary and fundamentally change small infantry tactics. The XM25 will essentially destroy the value of cover and with it the necessity of long-drawn out firefights. It will also make the old infantry tactic of firing and maneuvering to eliminate an enemy hiding behind cover obsolete.
(Excerpt) Read more at thediplomat.com ...
http://www.janes.com/article/57906/pentagon-budget-2017-xm25-funded-as-new-start-programme
So, since I always lost to my son (former Marine) in any kind of strategic game, opinions welcomed.
other links contained in article:
http://peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil/2010/12/09/xm25-update/
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/03/07/army-yanks-xm25-punisher-from-warzone.html
https://www.orbitalatk.com/defense-systems/armament-systems/cdte/
master chief would like it
“Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) weapon”
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide..
War Never Changes.
I was hoping for a phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range.
cool
How is the grenade guided to the target?
Does one have to remain exposed to guide it?
Are you exhibiting a “signature” while guiding?
Interesting but I want to know more.
What about shoot and move? If your entire enemy force adopts that tactic, they reduce the effectiveness of a weapon predicated on a known location.
Let me know when XLRM-1A and 3A are out.
They tried these out a few years ago. There were major problems with the fusing and they were withdrawn after trials.
the program goes back a decade and a half ago, originally the weapon was to be combined with a G36 derivative. Huge turd of a weapon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective_Individual_Combat_Weapon
It’s another tool in the toolbox.
Use it where appropriate.
That weapon looks as if it could be mounted in a drone too.
I would think that the beginning of the end of line infantry didn’t occur in 1866, but a few years earlier at Antietam, or certainly Gettysburg; the Europeans just kept it up until the Franco-Prussian War.
I have read about this weapon before. Basically there is a range finder that programs the projectile to explode at a certain range. The soldier puts the crosshairs on a wall and pulls the trigger and the rifle programs the projectile to explode over the target.
From what I recall of the initial release, the shooter ranges to the target via LRF which then sends that data to the round. The round is then fired above the intended target and explodes at the distance determined by the LRF. No guessing on the part of the shooter.
me want...!!
Just what you see, pal.
CC
Next thing...SMART GRENADES?
From the article: “It will also make the old infantry tactic of firing and maneuvering to eliminate an enemy hiding behind cover obsolete.”
Hmm, haven’t we heard that refrain before? Tanks, air power, and a host of other things were gonna make slugging it out at ground level obsolete. In the end, unless you can completely vaporize the target area, or have robots doing your fighting, you are always going to need boots on the ground capable of executing fire and manuver tactics.
There are countermeasures...laser jamming.
You lase the target to establish range, which allows you to set fuse for round to detonate at that range with manual adjustment for +/- 10 feet short/long. You aim over target and round goes off precisely over target. You will be somewhat exposed during firing, but can fire from cover. I don’t see this as revolutionary, but handy.
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