Army Testing XM-25 'Smart' Weapon

Army News Service via Military.com ^ | 11-11-09 | by Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner

[Redcitizen]

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - A Soldier successfully shoulder-fired a "smart" High Explosive Airburst, or HEAB round for the first time Aug. 11 from the XM-25 weapon system at Aberdeen Test Center, Md.

The Army plans on purchasing more than 12,500 XM-25 systems starting in 2012, which will be enough to put one in each Infantry squad and Special Forces team, according to officials at Program Executive Office-Soldier.

At first glance, the XM-25 looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. It features an array of sights, sensors and lasers housed in a Target Acquisition Fire Control unit on top, an oversized magazine behind the trigger mechanism, and a short, ominous barrel wrapped by a recoil dampening sleeve.

[Redcitizen]

"At first glance, the XM-25 looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. "

Still doesn't beat an M41A pulse rifle for Sci-fi guns.

[garjog]

[DBrow]

Sarge! I have two rounds left, but I’m low on batteries!

[PokeyJoe]

Looks plastic. I wonder if you look on the bottom - does it say “Made in China?”

[Don W]

Is it anything like this?

[FormerACLUmember]

Yeah baby!

[SpitfyrAce]

A real warrior would ask what the little red button does...

[garjog]

General Dynamics new wireless weapons system -- remotely controlled with air burst guns.

[Redcitizen]

Sarge- “Utilize the emergency power generator.”

Private-” “what?”

Sarge “wind it up with the crank!”

[Redcitizen]

Here's my choice, an m41a1 pulse rifle.

[HP8753]

The bottom says "Made in the USA"

XM25 aka IAWS

[Lmo56]

High Explosive Airburst, or HEAB

I hope that is pronounced "Hee-ab" and not "Heeb", otherwise theres gonna be an outcry from the Jewish population ...

[El Gato]

Sarge! I have two rounds left, but I’m low on batteries!

We're already there. NVG's, which are one heck of force mulitiplier, for example, holographic sights for another (EO-Tech, ACOG, etc).

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the post. I enjoy these threads.

I am not exposed to as many different guns as I’d like to be.

I could benefit from a thread where gun enthusiasts would work up a photo and paragraph to relate what their favorite gun was, and some of the characteristics. A link to more info would be nice too.

If I could, I’m sure others would too.

I’d love to see someone who’s into some of the more recent esoteric weapons start a thread like that.

[B-Chan]

Optional thermobaric rounds! Wow!

[Deagle]

Hey...saw this on the Military Channel - works like a charm. Now if they can get it into production within the next 10 years, that would be marvelous!

[Redcitizen]

It should have been named High Explosive Airburst- Vectored Hostile Ordnance - HEAV(e) HO. As in give em the Heave ho.

Although Heeb got me snickering. =)

[Rodamala]

Had to pull this photo out of the archives... I sent this to a friend who had gone with me to the museum at the Aberdeen Proving Ground many years ago... as a Christmas e-card!

The "gun that shoots around corners" is a HUGE "in-joke" between all of us who saw it that day at the museum.

[Rodamala]

I figured I should "plug" the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum's website, since I mentioned it in my post... If you are traveling on I-95 between Baltimore and Philly, have a few hours, and like big guns (the German V2 rocket, and railway gun were particularly interesting to me), you should DEFINATELY check it out.

http://www.ordmusfound.org/

[Redcitizen]

That looks like a lube gun. There is actually a weapon system that helps aim a gun pointed around a corner. its called Corner shot.
I saw it on Discovery with a glock mounted on it.

http://www.cornershot.com/