Article

2017-05-12 Science & Technology

Army Wizes Up, Terminates XM25 Contract; Airburst Weapon's Future Uncertain

[Kit Up] I found out on late Friday afternoon that the U.S. Army cancelled its XM25 25mm airburst weapon contract with Orbital ATK Inc.

Nicknamed "the Punisher" and designed by Orbital ATK and Heckler & Koch, XM25 Counter-Defilade Target Engagement System has long been the Army’s attempt to field a "leap-ahead" weapon designed to give infantry units a decisive edge against enemies hiding behind cover.

I wrote a story about for Military.com, which ran on Saturday, that talks about how Army Weapons officials were reluctant to talk about XM25 when asked about it last week at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Armaments Systems Forum.

Posted by Besoeker 2017-05-12 02:07|| || Front Page|| [11132 views ] Top

#1 Unable to find soldiers strong enough to hump the weapon, batteries, and basic load of ammo ?

Posted by Besoeker 2017-05-12 02:12|| 2017-05-12 02:12|| Front Page Top

#2 Try funding it, producing it, and speeding it to the front with such expense and tech.

I AM never comfortable with a military that loses support every time a democrat gets in charge, and a military that is forced to take elaborate technical weapons systems.

Too much tech mucks up the actual field.
And you will lose the next time you get a piece of shit like obama again.

These contracts are political anyway.

Posted by newc 2017-05-12 03:22|| 2017-05-12 03:22|| Front Page Top

#3 Concept was good. Will be back in a few years.

Posted by phil_b 2017-05-12 05:11|| 2017-05-12 05:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Not 'front line' gender friendly, B.

Posted by Skidmark 2017-05-12 05:30|| 2017-05-12 05:30|| Front Page Top

#5 From what I understand, the troops loved it. Admittedly, all I know is what I have read, but, it was reported to work as intended.

Posted by Spinesing Gray3122 2017-05-12 09:18|| 2017-05-12 09:18|| Front Page Top

#6 Story says contract was terminated for failure to deliver agreed number(20) of weapons.

Posted by Grunter 2017-05-12 10:12|| 2017-05-12 10:12|| Front Page Top

#7 The basic idea, applied to the grenade launchers commonly carried by the US troops, might have been better. It's a larger projectile with more volume, higher production volumes, etc...

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2017-05-12 12:21|| 2017-05-12 12:21|| Front Page Top

#8 Yeah, the Marines loved the thing and rapidly used up all the ammo for them. They didn't break down much (especially for prototypes), were reliable and did what they were supposed to do. I would like to see this or something like it deployed for our guys.

Posted by DarthVader 2017-05-12 12:30|| 2017-05-12 12:30|| Front Page Top

#9 As I understand it, The problem was:
the cost and complexity of the weapon;
the cost and complexity of the ammo;
the fact that there were not enough opportunities to use the weapon's features.

Simply stated, on a cost per kill basis the M320, m32, and Mk 19 can get the kills cheaper.

Al

Posted by Frozen Al 2017-05-12 13:30|| 2017-05-12 13:30|| Front Page Top

#10 Yep, more vendors AL.

Posted by Skidmark 2017-05-12 17:14|| 2017-05-12 17:14|| Front Page Top

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