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| Science & Technology |
| A super weapon that works! |
| 2011-02-10 |
| Three months after the first five XM-25 grenade launchers arrived in Afghanistan, and after only 55 25mm rounds were fired in combat, the troops don't want to give these new weapons up. The XM-25s work as advertised, firing "smart rounds" that explode over the heads of Taliban hiding behind rocks or walls, or hiding in a cave or room. Enemy machine-guns have been quickly knocked out of action and ambushes quickly disrupted with a few 25mm shells. Encounters that might go on for 15 minutes or longer, as U.S. troops exchange fire with hidden Taliban, end in minutes after a few 25mm, computer controlled, rounds are fired from the XM-25. While American infantry love gadgets, they are very eager about electronics that helps them in combat. The XM-25 is all that, and the troops want more. In response, the U.S. Army decided to let the paratroopers keep the five XM-25s, and to speed up construction of an additional 36. The word has gotten around in Afghanistan, and every combat units there is asking for XM-25s. Although warned to keep operational details off public Internet forums, XM-25 users are telling stories to other combat troops of a wonder-weapon that actually works. All this comes after years of testing and debating whether the XM-25 was ready for a combat test. Finally, three months ago, after yet another year of testing and tinkering, the U.S. Army finally sent five of its high-tech, but long delayed, XM-25 grenade launchers to Afghanistan |
| Posted by: |
| #10 This means that by hook, or crook, they will try to steal one from one of our combat units. Cheaper to buy one. Hell, they featured it on a cable show a couple of years ago. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2011-02-10 22:24 |
| #9 Wikipedia says that it has an laser range finder built in and the user programs the 3 meters using that. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2011-02-10 20:06 |
| #8 Best thing since the proximity fuse. :) |
| Posted by: Whusogum Tingle9265 2011-02-10 14:56 |
| #7 Wow. I had visions of some feedback control guidance system based on nano-technology such as a heat-seeking small missile. However, a quick check yielded the following which is pretty slick. the user can manually adjust the detonating distance by up to 10 feet (3.0 m) shorter or longer; the XM25 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, then detonates at the proper distance to produce an air burst effect. I wonder if the user makes the 3 meter change based on a laser range finder distance or some other such device? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-02-10 14:23 |
| #6 Any video of the look on the Taliban faces? |
| Posted by: gorb 2011-02-10 14:18 |
| #5 If I remember correctly, the Military Channel had an entire program devoted to this about a year ago. Can't remember the name of the program, but it was their weapons of the future program. |
| Posted by: sam3rd 2011-02-10 14:15 |
| #4 Further in the article it says that SKOR is marketing a 20mm version. Should be a hot seller. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-02-10 14:13 |
| #3 Hot-cha. I've been waiting for field reviews. This weapon sounds like it would be a mother in the offense, especially because it has a maximum effective range greater than an AK-47 by almost a hundred meters. However, that being said, I can also imagine that countries around the world want one, yesterday, so they can make knock-offs. This means that by hook, or crook, they will try to steal one from one of our combat units. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-02-10 13:50 |
| #2 congrats to Heckler & Koch/Alliant Techsystems/L-3 IOS Brashear. |
| Posted by: Lord Garth 2011-02-10 13:13 |
| #1 I want one for my birthday! |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2011-02-10 13:11 |