Heckler & Koch HK XM25 CDTE

History

The futuristic Heckler & Koch HK XM25 IAWS - Personal Air Explosive Weapon System - (now CDTE = Counter Defilade Tarfet Engagement) is a semi-automatic, multi-shot, shoulder-fired 25mm grenade launcher classified as "Air Explosive "Weapon" is a system used to neutralize targets outside the field of view. The term airburst stems from the launcher's use of delayed detonation of ammunition, which allows for a higher chance of killing. The first prototype was handed over to the U.S.

Army for field testing in April 2005. Field testing of the project took place in theaters from Iraq to Afghanistan in mid-2009. The project should - subject to any planning setbacks - be deployed on a large scale in 2012.

The general basis for the XM25 is its range finding and delayed ammunition detonation capabilities. The operator activates the laser rangefinder and determines the distance to the target or target area. Once determined by the rangefinder, the operator is free to "fine-tune" the projectile's detonation delay by increasing or decreasing the range before firing. The calculated distance is "printed" out of the chambered grenade by a microchip built into each 25mm projectile. The operator pulls the trigger, pushing the grenade into its trajectory.

The grenade then automatically calculates how many turns have occurred since it was fired from the rifled barrel. Once a preset range is reached, the grenade will self-detonate at or near the target. Essentially, it's a "smart" weapon - while it still requires user input, it does a lot of the actual work after it catches fire.

The first kill probability was found to be very high, at least for the target mannequin.

The XM25 is designed in a "bull" configuration, which means that the magazine and corresponding feed system are mounted to the rear of the pistol grip, trigger group and receiver. This provides a stable grip when resting on the operator's shoulder, as this requires a larger and heavier stock. A dedicated optical system - the target acquisition fire control system - is mounted above the receiver. The front of the frame is contoured to fit snugly against the operator's other hand to further aid the trigger. The pistol grip has an integral guard that extends to the bottom of the pistol grip in front of the trigger.

The total weight (6.3kg) is said to be comparable to an M16 assault rifle with a 40mm grenade launcher attachment. Point targets have a range of 500 meters and long-range targets have a range of 1,000 meters.

In some ways, the XM25 is similar in appearance to another - although unfortunately - Heckler & Koch/Alliant Techsystems co-developed XM29 OICW, from which the XM25 was actually born.

The XM25 uses low velocity 25x40mm grenade ammunition. The launcher can fire grenades of this caliber in several forms, including a high-explosive round with two warheads (HEAB - High Explosive Air Blast), a dart-loading cartridge (arrow) and a thermobaric cartridge (in the cramped useful in spaces such as caves). ). In addition, there will be standard training rounds and non-lethal rounds.

The weapon fires from an oversized 4-round magazine mounted on the rear of the weapon.

The heart and soul of the XM25 is its Target Capture Fire Control System (TAFCS). This sophisticated device (developed by L-3 Communications Brashear) enables the XM25 operator to operate during the day or night (the latter via thermal imaging), in adverse weather conditions, and against obscured targets (i.e. hidden from view) ) to engage and shell targets in trenches or ravines. Likewise, the weapon would enable U.S. soldiers to attack targets inside buildings and fire from windows. The soldier just needs his gun to calculate the distance behind the window frame, fire the XM25 and detonate the grenade once it's in space, and hopefully defeat the enemy inside - all while doing very little damage to the building's large interior substructure . The laser rangefinder is activated by a button on the surface of the XM25 trigger guard. The trigger guard also has controls for fine-tuning the range, adding or subtracting meters in flight for chamber grenades.

Aiming is accomplished with an adjusted reticle aiming point in the optics, where the captured target distance is also displayed. The fire control system evaluates the current air temperature and pressure and takes into account the inherent ballistics of the 25mm cartridge within the ranges shown.

The U.S. Army intends to purchase approximately 12,500 M25 systems beginning in 2012, deploying at least one unit for each of its infantry and special forces. The main development of the weapon was carried out by Heckler & Koch GmbH in Germany and Alliant Techsystems in Minnesota, USA.

On August 11, 2009, US soldiers successfully tested the XM25 for the first time at the Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. Tests have shown that practice targets outperform class weapons currently deployed to perform the same tasks by 300%.

Training on the XM25 is also believed to be quick, with new XM25 operators ready to fire weapons within five minutes.

In February 2013, the XM25 was withdrawn from the Afghanistan deployment due to a live fire. In June of that year, the program suffered funding cuts, removing 1,400 XM25 weapons from the 2014 procurement budget.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes