XM25 Lets GIs Eliminate Unseen Targets

[unhappycamper]

XM25 Lets GIs Eliminate Unseen Targets
May 10, 2010
Army News Service|by C. Todd Lopez

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, Md. - The Army's Program Executive Office Soldier showcased some of its products at the Aberdeen Test Center here.

Among those products were the XM153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, the M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun with M2E2 Quick Change Barrel Kit, the lighter weight M240L Medium Range Machine Gun, and the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System.

Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner, program manager for individual Soldier weapons at PEO Soldier, demonstrated the XM25 airburst weapon. The system launches 25mm programmable rounds which can explode over a target.

If the Soldier "wants to get that round in the window ... what's he's able to do with the high explosive round is he's able to laser designate the building and the round will then fly through the window and explode inside the room," Lehner said.

Aboard the XM25 is a laser rangefinder that can measure the distance to the target and place an adjusted aim point on a targeting screen. The system then allows Soldiers to choose to over-shoot the measured distance so the round will explode inside the building. The targeting computer programs the round to explode at the designated distance. The system allows Soldiers to hit targets they cannot see, because they are hiding behind walls, inside buildings or behind natural obstructions.



unhappy camper comment: And the best part is they only cost $25,000!




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM25_Individual_Airburst_Weapon_System

[NJmaverick]

1. If that is what it costs to save the lives of GIs than I will happily pay it

[unhappycamper]

2. Hey NJmaverick - I have a question for you.

Have you ever served in a combat zone?

[NJmaverick]

3. No, but that doesn't mean I don't want to do whatever we can to save the lives of those that fight

This weapon system will allow our GIs to take out the enemy while not exposing themselves to return fire. That sure sounds like a life saver and if it costs $25K that's a price that as a tax payer I am willing to pay.

[sailor65]

5. Well I have,

and what's the life of your teammate worth to you?

My team would have given its collective right arms for this weapon system back then. The ability to clear a volume without a blind wall approach, or clear a building without having to call in air, risking spillover would have been welcome.

If the cost is your beef, remember that only one man needs to carry the weapon to carry out its intended purpose.

As long as we fail to keep soldiers out of war, they deserve every means of getting home. I'm surprised a guy with your avatar would have a problem with that.

[unhappycamper]

6. Having been thru a few 'actions' a teammate's life is of extreme importance.

Here's a question for you: Are we supposed to make sure they are the bad guys before we send them to meet their maker? Or is it just shoot now and check them out later?

My concern is increased civilian casualties. Granted it's just a few more bodies to 'splain' away but we are and have been making a lot of enemies with our imperial policies to date.

[sailor65]

7. So really we agree then

I see this as being the way to clear known enemies more surgically than calling in air, as we've had to do in the past. Absolutely yes we're supposed to check our targets. I can't tell you how many times the target in a small building is clearly known to us and an unsafe approach under fire has had to be made which endangered the team, or air (Or heavy ground) support was needed which endangered civilians in the vicinity. I would not have my team using this thing blindly or with only "Potential" targets.

Your concern is justifiable and I agree on that point.

[NeedleCast]

4. While I'm all for reduction in military spending

I think these are the kinds of things we should be spending on. A reduction in force size and expanding the technology gap between those we're fighting.

[MicaelS]

8. Agree 100%

This weapon is what we need to be spending money on for the warfighter. That, and a new rifle for the troops that does not use direct gas impingement to cycle the action. As opposed to a new carrier battle groups or expensive new combat aircraft for the Air Force.