XM25 CDTE: Difference between revisions

XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System
XM25 in use by a U.S. Army soldier
Type	Grenade launcher
Place of origin	United States  Germany
Service history
In service	2010–2013
Used by	U.S. Army
Wars	War in Afghanistan
Production history
Designer	Alliant Techsystems, Heckler & Koch
Manufacturer	Alliant Techsystems, Heckler & Koch
Specifications
Mass	6.35 kg (14.0 lb) empty
Length	749 mm (29.5 in)[1]
Cartridge	25 × 40 mm
Muzzle velocity	690 ft/s (210 m/s)
Effective firing range	550 yd (500 m) for point targets, 765 yd (700 m) for area targets
Maximum firing range	1,100 yd (1,000 m)
Feed system	4-round box magazine

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) System,^[2] also known as the Punisher and Individual Semiautomatic Air Burst System is an air burst grenade launcher derived from the XM29 OICW. It was fielded to soldiers serving in the War in Afghanistan and was projected to enter full-rate procurement in 2013.^[3] However, the Senate Armed Services Committee eliminated all funding for the XM25 in its revision of the Pentagon's budget in June 2013.^[4]

The XM25 CDTE fires 25 mm grenades that are set to explode in mid-air at or near the target. A laser rangefinder in the weapon is used to determine the distance to the target. 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,^[5] then detonates at the proper distance to produce an air burst effect. These features make the XM25 more effective than traditional grenade launchers at the task of hitting targets that are behind cover or dug into the ground (i.e. in defilade.) One of the weapon's developers, Richard Audette, believes that the XM25 is a big leap forward because it is the first small arms weapon to use smart technology.^[6]

The system has been developed by Alliant Techsystems and Heckler & Koch, while the target acquisition/fire control is developed by L-3 IOS Brashear.

• Caliber: Low-velocity 25mm × 40 grenade
  • Thermobaric
  • Flechette
  • Training
  • High-explosive airbursting round
  • Non-lethal
  • Armor Piercing (50 mm armor penetration)^[7]
  • Door breaching
• Firing Modes:^[7]
  • Airburst (In front of or over aiming point)
  • Point Detonation
  • Point Detonation Delay
  • Window (Beyond aiming point)
• Operation: Gas operated semi-automatic
• System weight: 14 lb (6.4 kg)
• Target acquisition/fire control (XM104)
  • Weight: 2.54 lb (1.15 kg)
  • 4× thermal sight with zoom
  • 2× direct view optical sight
  • Ballistic computer
  • Digital compass
  • Laser rangefinder
  • Ammunition fuze setter
  • Environmental sensors

This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2012)

The XM25 began as an offshoot of the Objective Individual Combat Weapon program. It was part of OICW Increment 2 as the stand-alone airburst component. As a standalone launcher, it was intended to be a special applications and support weapon, not an individual combat weapon like the previously attempted XM29, which combined an assault rifle and airburst grenade launcher. Being only a grenade launcher, the XM25 was able to fire larger 25 mm grenade rounds than the experimental 20 mm grenades fired from the XM29. In 2005, the weapon underwent limited field trials and combat testing.^{[citation needed]}

In the summer of 2010, the United States Army began field testing the XM25 in Afghanistan, with an initial per unit cost of the early models range from US$30,000 to $35,000. The Army planned to purchase 12,500 XM25s in 2011 at a cost of $25,000 each^[8] and have them fielded by 2012, enough for one XM25 system in each infantry squad and special forces team.^[9][10] According to U.S. Army project manager for new weapons, Colonel Douglas Tamilio, the rounds for the XM25 were expected to cost about $24 each (as of 2010).^[11]

Alliant Techsystems has indicated that the rifle may later use bullets with smaller explosive charges which will stun opponents rather than killing them.^[11]

Five of the weapons were deployed with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan in October 2010,^[12] along with 1,000 hand-made air-burst rounds. The soldiers reported that the weapon was extremely effective at killing or neutralizing enemy combatants firing on US troops from covered positions. The US troops have nicknamed the weapon, "The Punisher."^[13] First contact was 3 December 2010. As of February 2011, the weapon had been fired 55 times at a cost of $1,000 each, but the cost is now expected to be $35 per shot when in full production, scheduled from 2012.^[14] The US Army ordered 36 more of the rifles in January 2012.^[15] On September 12, 2012, Alliant Techsystems received a $16.8 million engineering and manufacturing development contract modification for the XM25. The contract funds the continuing design, integration, production, and testing of fully functional systems to ensure the weapon's final design meets performance requirements and is production-ready prior to fielding. ATK will be supporting another Army XM25 forward operational assessment scheduled for 2013 with a 36 gun battalion set of new pre-production prototypes.^[16]

On February 2, 2013, an XM25 exploded during a live-fire training event. The primer and propellant ignited as the result of a double feed, although safety mechanisms prevented the round’s warhead from detonating. The gun was inoperable after the explosion and the soldier received minor injuries. In response, the Army removed the XM25 from service in Afghanistan. ATK noted that there were nearly 5,900 rounds fired between failures.^[17]

The misfiring caused the Army to delay the decision to move the XM25 into full-rate production, pending changes to the design of the weapon and ammunition, operation procedures, and training techniques. Testing continued at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where developers incorporated 130 design improvements. Despite the incident, Pentagon budget proposals included $69 million for 1,400 XM25 systems. The Army planned on a total of 10,876 units, two per infantry squad and one per special forces team. The post-Afghanistan strategy emphasizes the effectiveness of "the soldier and the squad."^[18]

In June 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee eliminated all funding for the 1,400 XM25 systems the Army wanted to purchase from the 2014 budget. The malfunction in February raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the weapon. The "unreliable performance" of the weapon led to funding being cut, as well as the recommendation to review alternative air-burst weapon systems.^[4]

In August 2013, the Army revealed that the XM25 may move to low-rate initial production (LRIP) by August 2014. The weapons is currently in the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase and not yet ready for fielding. By August 2014, it is expected to reach milestone C, starting LRIP for 1,100 weapons and needed ammunition. Low-rate production would lead to type-classification, resulting in removing the "X" from its designation. Improvements are being made concerning the fire control system, battery life, weight, and magazine size. Following milestone C in 2014, the system will go through initial operational tests and live-fire tests in 2015. The XM25 is expected to be combat-ready by the end of 2015, and be fielded with all brigade combat teams, as well as the Army Special Operations Command, Special Forces detachments, and Ranger Regiments. Automated production will reduce the price of the system to $35,000 for the weapon and fire control system, and $55 per round.^[19]

• April 2005 - First prototypes are delivered to the U.S. Army for field-testing.^[20]
• September 2005 - Test firing by regular troops at Grafenwöhr Training Area.^[21]
• Summer 2009 - Field tests in Iraq or Afghanistan.^[5]
• November 2010 - Preliminary deployment in Afghanistan.^[22]
• 3 December 2010 - First contact.^[14]
• 12 September 2012 - EMD contract.^[16]
• 2 February 2013 - Misfire during live-fire event, XM25 removed from field in Afghanistan.^[17]
• 2013 - Scheduled to begin low-rate initial production.^[14]
• June 2013 - Funding cut for XM25.^[4]

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to XM25.

• XM25 Airburst Weapon System - ATK^{[dead link]}
• XM25 peosoldier.army.mil
• XM25 grenade launcher - Modern Firearms
• XM25 Airburst Weapons System - Global Security
• Green Berets will receive Judge Dredd computer smart-rifle
• Military.com - A First Look at the XM25 ^{[dead link]}