l****z
发帖数: 29846 | 1 The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday the secret deployment in Afghanistan over
the past several weeks of the XM25, the newest advancement in small arms.
The XM25 is a revolutionary new Individual Airburst Weapon (IAW) system that
will change the face of war, much like the longbow, gunpowder and nuclear
weapons.
The XM25 is a revolutionary next generation of grenade launchers. Unlike the
single-shot M-79 "Bloop Tube" of Vietnam era, or the M203 tube slung under
M4 rifles, the XM25 is a semi-automatic, 25mm grenade launcher, pinpoint-
accurate at ranges at and under 500 meters. The weapon system eliminates
virtually all 'cover' behind which an enemy might hide. The maker boasts a
300-500% increase in hit probability over the current M203.
The IAW uses laser to determine the range to the target, up to 700 yards
away for airburst, wide-area coverage. The weapon integrates ballistics
computation within a full-solution computer program known as Target
Acquisition/Fire Control (TA/FC). After calculating the inputs, the IAW
immediately provides the operator with the proper aiming point through the
sight. It instantaneously programs a microchip in the 25mm grenade to
explode a meter or so past the cover point, showering all taking refuge
there with lethal fragmentation. The operator simply selects the type rounds
required aims and fires the grenade launcher. The flat trajectory is also
unlike the previous high-arc, low-velocity grenade launchers resulting in a
far more accurate delivery of munitions.
Featuring a bull-pup design, the Individual Airburst Weapon's near half-mile
effective range is well beyond that of most small arms, keeping the user
safer. The XM25 is able to place the grenade with laser precision reducing "
collateral damage" as well, the army believes.
The weapons system is a development by a partnership of Alliant Techsystems
(ATK) and Heckler and Koch Manufacturing (H&K). Guns and Patriots readers
will recognize H&K as the successor to Mauser, rising from post WWII ashes
to become a leading German small arms manufacturer. ATK is a United States
defense contractor with assets around $3.5billion (US) that manufactures
everything from primers and bullets to the lifting rockets for the Trident
D5 Missile.
The total deployment costs for the XM25 could reach as high as $375million (
US) if plans to deploy over 12,500 IAW's come to fruition. Pentagon planners
envision one IAW per rifle squad or Special Forces Team. The weapon is the
most expensive shoulder fired weapon ever deployed at $25,000 to $30,000 (US
) per copy.
High Explosive, Flechette Fragmentary, Thermobaric, Armor Piercing, along
with Non-Lethal grenades are currently available. This is an impressive
armory for an infantry weapons system to reach out and touch someone.
The army describes the weapon system as a "game-changer" and indeed, it
appears so. The effect upon humanity of this new weapon may be even greater
than that of nuclear weapons, for it is in the hands of the basic infantry
soldier, charged with forcibly taking ground from others. This weapon –
unlike nuclear arms – is likely to find widespread use, despite its initial
secret issue.
Bentley Gates is an author whose works includes the "The Bahrain Conspiracy"
(Savant 2010). He has earned the prestigious Editor/Publisher Award from
the National Association of Legal Investigators and authored articles for
leading trade publications. He is a Vietnam Era veteran of the 1st Cavalry
Division and has taught Kenpo Karate giving rise to his interest in martial
arts and militaria. |
|
