Wut? No money left to buy these things?
Dodging enemy gunfire in close-quarter urban combat, seeking to destroy enemy fighters hiding behind walls, rocks and trees and firing ammunition especially engineered to explode at a particular, pre-planned point in space ‐ comprise the highly sought-after advantages of the Army's XM25 "airburst" weapon.
However, despite the initial promise of prototypes of the technology in combat in Afghanistan as an emerging way to bring a decisive advantage to Soldiers in firefight, the future of the XM25 is now uncertain due to ongoing Army needs, requirements, weapons inventory assessments and budget considerations, service officials told Scout Warrior.
The Army's XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement airburst weapon system, in development for several years, was used to destroy Taliban fighters hiding behind grape-growing walls in Afghanistan during a Forward Operational Assessment of the weapon several years ago. Extensive analysis and adjustments to the weapon followed this operational combat evaluation, Army officials explained.
Army and Pentagon weapons developers and budget planners are now deliberating plans for the weapon, which could be formally produced and deployed within the next several years ‐ or passed over due to fiscal constraints.
While the XM25 would clearly be useful in a major force-on-force engagement or great power conflict, airburst attacks have particular value in a counterinsurgency type-fight wherein enemies seek to use terrain, building, rocks, ditches or trees to protect themselves from being targeted.
By attacking with an "airburst" round, Soldiers do not have to have a linear view or direct line of sight to an enemy target; if they know an enemy is behind a rock or tree (in defilade) ‐ the weapon can explode above or near the location to ensure the target is destroyed.
The weapon uses laser-rangefinder technology to fire a high-explosive airburst round capable of detonating at a specific point near an enemy target hidden or otherwise obscured by terrain or other obstacles, Army developers have explained.
Program managers had been seeking to expedite development of the system, refine and improve the technology, and ultimately begin formal production by the fall of 2014, however its current trajectory is now unclear.
"The XM25 brings a new capability to the Soldier for the counter-defilade fight, allowing him to be able to engage enemy combatants behind walls, behind trees or in buildings," former XM25 program manager Col. Scott Armstrong, previously explained in an Army statement.
"The weapon fires a programmable airburst 25mm smart round. It consists of the weapons system with a target acquisition control system mounted on top," Armstrong said.
The XM25 represents the state-of-the art in terms of airburst technology, consisting of a programmable 25mm round, a sensor and a fire-control system, former Army Chief Scientist, Dr. Scott Fish, told Army.mil following the assessments.
Using laser rangefinder technology, the fire control system on the weapon uses computer technology to calculate the distance the round must travel in order to explode at a particular, pre-determined point in space, he explained.
"The laser rangefinder sends a pulse of light out to the target. This light pulse hits the target and is reflected back, allowing the fire control system to calculate the distance based on the time it takes the light pulse to travel," Fish said. "Since the speed of light is known, the exact distance to the target can then be determined. Once you determine how far the distance is to the target, a computer then calculates how long it will take the round to get there."
The sensor and computer in the fire control system calculate the time it will take the round to reach the target by factoring in the distance it needs to travel and the speed at which it travels, Fish added.
The 25mm round is engineered with a small, chip-based sensor able to track distance in flight so that the round detonates at precisely the right distance, Fish said.
Earlier prototypes of the XM25 completed 14-months of Forward Operational Assessments in Afghanistan, an effort designed to provide Soldiers in combat with the advantage of having airburst technology and harvest important feedback needed to refine development of the weapon's final design for production.
"The Army has learned many valuable lessons from these deployments regarding how the weapon can be deployed and how tactics can be changed to better refine the design of the weapon. Based on feedback from Soldiers and contractor testing, we have already incorporated more than 100 improvements to the systems related to ergonomics, performance and fire control," said Armstrong.
During its initial Forward Operational Assessment, the XM 25 provided a decisive advantage to Soldiers in combat in Afghanistan, Army officials said.
Units using several prototype XM25s in theater were accompanied by teams of weapons experts focused on analyzing the system's performance with a mind to making needed improvements, Armstrong said.
While on patrol in Southern Afghanistan several years ago, Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division used the XM 25 to engage and successfully defeat enemy forces hiding behind three-to-four foot walls used by Afghans to grow grapes, Command Sgt.
Maj. James Carabello, MCoE, (Maneuver Center of Excellence) a combat veteran who recently led infantry units, told Army.mil following the assessment.
"We defeated any enemy force that we deployed the weapon against. The XM25 is a devastating weapons system that changes the face of battle when we are in direct fire contact with the enemy," he said.
#1
a devastating weapons system that changes the face of battle when we are in direct fire contact with the enemy
Therefore much too harmful for a 'kinder, gentler' military. The Fluffy Bunny and Baby Duck Society is grateful.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/24/2016 12:44 Comments ||
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#2
Didn't fit the Graft Plan or narrative of the Obola regime.
Not to mention the requirement to get rid of the army all together except for programs that are foundational for the Clinton Foundation money laundering.
#3
The weapon uses laser-rangefinder technology to fire a high-explosive airburst round capable of detonating at a specific point near an enemy target hidden or otherwise obscured by terrain or other obstacles, Army developers have explained.
Hiding behind a rock? Sort of runs counter to the Positive ID (PID) ROE, but who am I to question the logic.
#4
A squad or platoon weapon, does not need to be in every soldier. Then what about the rifle grenades and M203? couldn't they just make a M203 version witha programable round instead of a gold plated weapon?
#7
I'm guessing Raytheon has peddled it's new 'Pike' missile here. It's supposed to be basically a mini Javelin that you fire from an M40 grenade launcher, and uses existing Javelin directioning gear, etc.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
08/24/2016 17:32 Comments ||
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Leave the keys under the doormat and they get found. Leave the Top Secret plans on the internet and they get found. Ever heard of an airgap?
The Indian government is investigating the leak of more than 22,000 pages of documents that reveal secret data about its new high-tech fleet of submarines. Super graphic! Is that Sonora off in the distance ?
The leak, first reported by The Australian, includes sensitive information about the Scorpene submarines designed by French defense contractor DCNS for the Indian Navy. The documents detail the stealth submarines' sensors, torpedo launch systems, as well as communications and navigation capabilities.
"What I understand right now is that there is a case of hacking," Indian Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar told reporters on Wednesday. "We have asked the Indian naval chief to investigate the matter and give a detailed report about the leak."
The Indian Defense Ministry said in a statement that "it appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India."
DCNS declined to answer questions on where the leak originated, or when it may have occurred.
"This serious matter is thoroughly investigated by the proper French national authorities for defense security," said DCNS spokesperson Marion Bonnet. "This investigation will determine the exact nature of the leaked documents, the potential damages to DCNS customers as well as the responsibilities for this leakage."
The Indian Navy ordered six Scorpene submarines from DCNS. The first boat, called Kalvari, was built in a Mumbai shipyard, and should enter service this year. The program has suffered years of delays, but the remaining five submarines are scheduled to be delivered by 2020.
The Australian posted redacted versions of the leaked documents on its website. They are marked "Restricted Scorpene India," and include volumes of technical drawings and operations manuals. The documents also include highly sensitive information on noise levels produced by the submarine.
Damage from the leak is likely to extend far beyond India -- Chile, Malaysia, Brazil have all ordered versions of the Scorpene. DCNS is also under contract to build 12 new submarines for Australia at a cost of $39 billion.
The new boats will be entering service amid a major submarine race in Asia. Already, 12 regional powers have submarines at sea, according to IHS Jane's, and at least eight want to buy new or replacement subs.
While defense spending in Europe is basically flat, Asian countries are increasing their military budgets by 5% each year.
#1
"it appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India."
Uhh, Bubba, when you put it on the internet, it really doesn't matter where they are.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
08/24/2016 17:29 Comments ||
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#2
"But we had Secret service agents standing there protecting it"
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/24/2016 20:25 Comments ||
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Sorry, gotta click the link because the answers are in the form of an image of his twitter responses. Let's just say that he let us know what he is thinking in very few words.
Why get your huevos rancheros caught in a vice if you don't need to? Avoid entangling alliances. You tried twice in the 20th Century to save them at great expense in men and resources. And they enjoy the lavish military welfare you fork over to them while dealing behind your back and showing no real indication that they are as concerned about their own future. They expect the US to commit suicide (nuclear exchange) on their behalf. Really?
#4
The amount of damage Obama did with the red line he wasn't serious about is incalculable. Biden can pretend to stand tough right now. I don't see Germany ramping up to defend the Balkins at this point and most of Europe is distracted as well.
Basically Biden should be telling the Balkin nations to lay low and be nice to the Big Bear and hope sanity and responsibility returns to the west.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
