Photos: ATK and U.S. Army
The U.S. Army began testing on the field a number of XM-25 rifles
By H. Nelson Goodson
November 29, 2010
Afghanistan - The U.S. Army began using the new XM-25 Airburst sniper rifle with laser guided smart grenade ammunition that explodes in mid air or above within a meter before or after the intended target. The rifle computer scope sends a signal to the chip inside the smart grenade and programs it when to explode. The weapon was previously tested in the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. Each weapon costs $35,000.
The army is now testing it in the Afghan War. It was designed by Keckler & Koch and is manufactured in Minnesota.
ATK, the Minnesota manufacturer says, the Individual Airburst Weapon System (IAWS) is a semi-automatic weapon designed for effectiveness against enemies protected by walls, dug into foxholes, or hidden in hard-to-reach places.
The IAWS integrates ballistics computation in the full-solution Target Acquisition/Fire Control (TA/FC) system. The soldier places the aim point on target and activates the laser rangefinder. The fire control system provides an adjusted aim point. The soldier places the adjusted aim point on target and pulls the trigger. Target information is communicated to the chambered 25mm round. As the round speeds down range, it measures the distance traveled and bursts precisely at the preprogrammed distance.
The weapon is accurate up to 500 meters or 2,500 feet, according to ATK's website.
Video of XM-25 Airburst rifle in action: http://bit.ly/eWvE89
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
The U.S. Army began testing on the field a number of XM-25 rifles
By H. Nelson Goodson
November 29, 2010
Afghanistan - The U.S. Army began using the new XM-25 Airburst sniper rifle with laser guided smart grenade ammunition that explodes in mid air or above within a meter before or after the intended target. The rifle computer scope sends a signal to the chip inside the smart grenade and programs it when to explode. The weapon was previously tested in the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. Each weapon costs $35,000.
The army is now testing it in the Afghan War. It was designed by Keckler & Koch and is manufactured in Minnesota.
ATK, the Minnesota manufacturer says, the Individual Airburst Weapon System (IAWS) is a semi-automatic weapon designed for effectiveness against enemies protected by walls, dug into foxholes, or hidden in hard-to-reach places.
The IAWS integrates ballistics computation in the full-solution Target Acquisition/Fire Control (TA/FC) system. The soldier places the aim point on target and activates the laser rangefinder. The fire control system provides an adjusted aim point. The soldier places the adjusted aim point on target and pulls the trigger. Target information is communicated to the chambered 25mm round. As the round speeds down range, it measures the distance traveled and bursts precisely at the preprogrammed distance.
The weapon is accurate up to 500 meters or 2,500 feet, according to ATK's website.
Video of XM-25 Airburst rifle in action: http://bit.ly/eWvE89
Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile
