The XM25 is an airburst grenade launcher (Now named Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst System ISAAS) derived from the XM29 OICW. The system has been developed by Heckler & Koch and Alliant Techsystems, while the target acquisition/fire control is developed by L-3 IOS Brashear. The most recent deployment plans call for a purchase of 12,500 XM25s at a projected cost per weapon system of $25,000. In November 2010, US Army troops deployed in Afghanistan have reportedly been supplied with brand new, hi-tech and long-range rifles. Nine years after the US Army deployment in Afghanistan began, soldiers apparently now have use of XM25 Individual Airburst Weapon Systems. The ISAAS consists of a rifle that fires a 25mm airbursting round that is programmed by the weapon's integrated target acquisition and fire control system to detonate directly above an intended target. The XM25 measures the distance to the enemy's protective barrier, and can then program the round to detonate a user-adjustable distance past that, allowing Soldiers to put an air-bursting round directly above the enemy's head, inside their protected area, even if they are behind a wall or inside a building. Five of the weapons were deployed with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in October 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. After testing in Afghanistan, the XM25 was renamed Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) System. In August 2013, the Lt. Col. Shawn Lucas, the PEO Soldier program manager for individual weapons at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., said the XM25 is currently in the "engineering and manufacturing development phase," not yet ready for fielding.
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| Design |
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The XM25 is a gas operated, rotating bolt, semiautomatic weapon. It is designed using bull-pup layout, with the magazine and bolt located in the buttstock. The weapon housing is made from impact-resistant polymer. The ejection windows for spent cartridge cases are located on both sides of weapon;at any moment, however, only one ejection window is used, the other being closed by the integral dust cover. This, along with ambidextrous controls, allows theoperator to fire XM25 from either shoulder, as required.
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| Ammunition |
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XM25 fires 25 mm grenades that are set to explode in mid-air at or near the target. A laser rangefinder in the gun is used to determine the distance to the target. The user can manually adjust the detonating distance by up to 3 m shorter or longer. The gun automatically transmits the detonating distance to the grenade in the firing chamber. The grenade tracks the distance it has traveled by the number of spiral rotations after it is fired. These features make the XM25 more effective than traditional grenade launchers at the task of hitting targets that are behind cover or dug into the ground.
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| Production and usage |
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XM25 is a stand-alone weapon, its gunner will have to carry an additional personal defense weapon, such as pistol or a carbine. Current plans are to issue about two XM25 weapons to infantry squad. It also mustbe noted that XM25 will not replace neither M249SAW / light machine guns, nor the 40mm underbarrel grenade launchers. XM25 will be able to set the fuse of each round to explode over the target, to create maximum effect. After placing the aimpoint on the target and activating the laser rangefinder, the system calculates the range to the target, and converts it to time of flight for fuse setting.
The system allows soldiers to quickly and accurately engage targets by displaying an adjusted aim point based on range, environmental factors, and user inputs. The weapon's target acquisition and fire control integrates a thermal capability with direct-view optics, laser rangefinder, compass, fuze-setter, ballistic computer, laser pointer and illuminator. These capabilities enable the weapon's use during day or night and in all weather conditions.
This project is an outgrowth of the ill-fated and ill-conceived OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon), which burned development money to create something the soldier could not reasonably be expected to carry as a primary personal weapon. The XM25 was broken out from the entire weapon, and lightened up from 9,55 kg to a little more than 5,45 pounds. In size and weight, it’s close to an M4 carbine with the M203 grenade launcher attached, and carries the kick of a 12 gauge shotgun.
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| Accessories |
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The top of the XM25 is fitted with the rail and electronic interface, and will accept XM104 TA/FCS sight unit. The interface is required to provide range information for programming unit, which sets up the grenade airburst fuse at the instant of firing. The XM104 sighting unit is battery-operated, but, shall it fail due to battery run-out or damage,the XM25 could still be used as a direct-fire weapon with the grenades automatically set to point-impact detonation mode. The additional fire mode, range finding and sight control buttons are located at the front of the enlarged trigger guard.XM25 uses detachable, single stack magazines, which hold 6 rounds.
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| Specifications |
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Type
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Grenade launcher
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Country users
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US Army
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Designer country
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United States
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Ammunition
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Thermobaric, Flechette, Training , High-explosive airbursting, Non-lethal.
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Gunner
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1 soldier
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Calibre
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25 x 40 mm
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Weight
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6,35 kg
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Range
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500 m point, 1,000 m area
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Sight
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Thermal sight sight with zoom and optical sight
a
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Dimensions
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Lenght, ? m; Width, ? m; Height, ? m
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