U.S. Army Unveils 'Revolutionary' XM25 Rifle in Afghanistan

[YosemiteSam]

Since the dawn of modern warfare, the best way to stay alive in the face of incoming fire has been to take cover behind a wall. But thanks to a game-changing "revolutionary" rifle, the U.S. Army has made that tactic dead on arrival. Now the enemy can run, but he can't hide.

After years of development, the U.S. Army has unleashed a new weapon in Afghanistan -- the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System, a high-tech rifle that can be programmed so that its 25-mm. ammunition detonates either in front of or behind a target, meaning it can be fired just above a wall before it explodes and kills the enemy.

It also has a range of roughly 2,300 feet -- nearly the length of eight football fields -- making it possible to fire at targets well past the range of the rifles and carbines that most soldiers carry today.

Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner, project manager for the semi-automatic, shoulder-fired weapon system for the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office Soldier, said that the XM25's capability alone is such a "game-changer" that it'll lead to new ways of fighting on the battlefield, beginning this month in Afghanistan.

"With this weapon system, we take away cover from [enemy targets] forever," Lehner told FoxNews.com on Wednesday. "Tactics are going to have to be rewritten. The only thing we can see [enemies] being able to do is run away."

Complete Story

 

[zrinkill]

Gots to get me one.

 

[StevenOtero]

Spittin' out 25 Mike Mike rounds.

...nice

 

[Duane]

Just wait until Bubba gets ahold of this. Those deer won't stand a chance.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Pretty cool stuff. I also noticed that 2nd ID patch on the soldiers shoulder...heck yeah.

 

[SupermanXx]

Pretty cool stuff. I also noticed that 2nd ID patch on the soldiers shoulder...heck yeah.

what's it mean?

 

[Yeagermeister]

Since the dawn of modern warfare, the best way to stay alive in the face of incoming fire has been to take cover behind a wall. But thanks to a game-changing "revolutionary" rifle, the U.S. Army has made that tactic dead on arrival. Now the enemy can run, but he can't hide.

After years of development, the U.S. Army has unleashed a new weapon in Afghanistan -- the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System, a high-tech rifle that can be programmed so that its 25-mm. ammunition detonates either in front of or behind a target, meaning it can be fired just above a wall before it explodes and kills the enemy.

It also has a range of roughly 2,300 feet -- nearly the length of eight football fields -- making it possible to fire at targets well past the range of the rifles and carbines that most soldiers carry today.

Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner, project manager for the semi-automatic, shoulder-fired weapon system for the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office Soldier, said that the XM25's capability alone is such a "game-changer" that it'll lead to new ways of fighting on the battlefield, beginning this month in Afghanistan.

"With this weapon system, we take away cover from [enemy targets] forever," Lehner told FoxNews.com on Wednesday. "Tactics are going to have to be rewritten. The only thing we can see [enemies] being able to do is run away."

Complete Story

Is that Casmith? lol

 

[Yeagermeister]

what's it mean?

2nd Infantry Division

 

[DMOB]

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4438880/xm-25-rifle-in-action

 

[TheDallasDon]

[youtube]fWX-ub3thjE[/youtube]

 

[YosemiteSam]

Is that Casmith? lol

No, but he is aiming at Casmith. :laugh2:

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I wonder if they are considering making that a standard issue weapon to replace the M-16. Seems kind of bulky.

 

[bbgun]

If I gave this to my nephew, my sister would kill me. Still cool though.

[youtube]IxHW-QGMuZ4[/youtube]

 

[YosemiteSam]

If I gave this to my nephew, but my sister would kill me. Still cool though.

[youtube]IxHW-QGMuZ4[/youtube]

rofl, I gotta get me one of those. That way I can shoot my co-workers when they do something dumb to our production environment. :laugh2:

 

[63echo]

I wonder if they are considering making that a standard issue weapon to replace the M-16. Seems kind of bulky.

Nah. It's a grenade launcher. No way it will replace a traditional rifle as standard issue. That's not to say that the M4 won't be replaced anytime soon, just not with this. It might be a one per platoon kind of thing, sorta like the M203 launcher is now.

 

[big dog cowboy]

That is one bad weapon right there.

 

[bbgun]

That is one bad weapon right there.

Can't hold a candle to Bob's breath.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Can't hold a candle to Bob's breath.

His breath must be bad as I think it killed him since he hasn't been around in awhile. :laugh2:

 

[Seven]

Way too many electronics for a battle field environment in a hand held weapon. Slightest bit of condensation and/or dust and I bet it becomes less than reliable. JMO, of course.



I wonder what the maintenance is on that thing? Could you imagine cleaning it? I saw alot of fasteners on the brain cover alone.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Nah. It's a grenade launcher. No way it will replace a traditional rifle as standard issue. That's not to say that the M4 won't be replaced anytime soon, just not with this. It might be a one per platoon kind of thing, sorta like the M203 launcher is now.

Makes sense...like the 203 you mentioned of the guy having to lug the 60 around.

Also wonder if they will start employing this with sniper teams.

Interesting weapon no matter how it is used.