US ARMY FINALLY DEPLOYING LANDWARRIOR 25MM SMART GRENADE LAUNCHER

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1334114/New-US-Army-rifles-use-radio-controlled-smart-bullets-used-Afghanistan.html

No hiding place from new U.S. Army rifles that use radio-controlled smart bullets


By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:09 PM on 30th November 2010



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Weapon hailed as a game-changer that can fire up and over barriers and down into trenches

Soldiers will start using them in Afghanistan later this month



The U.S. army is to begin using a futuristic rifle that fires radio-controlled 'smart' bullets in Afghanistan for the first time, it has emerged.

The XM25 rifle uses bullets that are programmed to explode when they have travelled a set distance, allowing enemies to be targeted no matter where they are hiding.

The rifle also has a range of 2,300 feet making it possible to hit targets which are well out of the reach of conventional rifles.

The XM25 is being developed specially for the U.S. army and will be deployed with troops from later this month, it was revealed today.

The rifle's gunsight uses a laser rangefinder to determine the exact distance to the obstruction, after which the soldier can add or subtract up to 3 metres from that distance to enable the bullets to clear the barrier and explode above or beside the target.


Soldiers will be able to use them to target snipers hidden in trenches rather than calling in air strikes.

The 25-millimetre round contains a chip that receives a radio signal from the gunsight as to the precise distance to the target.

Lt. Col. Christopher Lehner, project manager for the system, described the weapon as a ‘game-changer’ that other nations will try and copy.

He expects the Army to buy 12,500 of the XM25 rifles this year, enough for every member of the infantry and special forces.

Lehner told FoxNews: ‘With this weapon system, we take away cover from [enemy targets] forever.

‘Tactics are going to have to be rewritten. The only thing we can see [enemies] being able to do is run away.’

from wikipedia:

Specifications


Caliber: Low-velocity 25 x 40 mm grenade.

Thermobaric http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m1060.htm

Armor Piercing http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m1049.htm
High-explosive airbursting. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/m1019.htm


Range: 500 m point, 1000 m area.

Operation: Gas operated semi-automatic.

System weight: 14 lbs (6.35 kg).

Target acquisition/fire control (XM104).

Weight: 2.54 lbs

4x thermal sight with zoom.

2x direct view optical sight.

Ballistic computer.

Digital compass.

Laser rangefinder.

Ammunition fuze setter.

Environmental sensors.

[edit] Program status

April 2005 - First prototypes are delivered to the U.S. Army for field-testing.[4]

September 2005 - Test firing by regular troops at Grafenwöhr Training Area.[5]

Summer 2009 - Field tests in Iraq or Afghanistan. 2012 forecasted deployment.[1]

November 2010 - Actual Field deployment in Afghanistan. [6]


COMMENT:  Could be a game changer, but that high tech grenade launcher still needs to be aimed properly, the marksmanship fundamentals applied so that electronically fuzed grenade is lobbed correctly-these things don't steer midflight.  Ammunition supply could be a problem, the grenadier could carry some but a magazine per squadmate would also be needed. 

Anyone humping this thing is a priority target....