Development advances on airburst rifle

MINNEAPOLIS, March 28 (UPI) -- Continuing design and manufacture of a precision 25mm rifle that fires airburst rounds has been ordered by the U.S. Army under a $65.8 million contract.

ATK of Minnesota, prime contractor and system integrator for the XM25 rifle, said the Engineering and Manufacturing Development award is for 30 months.

"The XM25 provides the soldier on the ground a precision weapon to quickly and accurately engage targets behind cover or exposed targets at ranges and accuracies not seen in today's small arms," said Bruce DeWitt, vice president and general manager of ATK's Advanced Weapons Division.

"A soldier using basic rifle marksmanship skills can effectively engage targets in less than 5 seconds while also reducing the chances for collateral damage."

Prototypes of the XM25 Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst System are undergoing a forward operational assessment in Afghanistan.

The XM25 consists of a rifle that fires a 25mm airbursting round that is programmed by the weapon's integrated target acquisition and fire control system to detonate directly above an intended target. It allows soldiers to quickly and accurately engage targets by displaying an adjusted aim point based on range, environmental factors and user inputs.

ATK said the weapon's target acquisition and fire control integrates a thermal capability with direct-view optics, laser rangefinder, compass, fuse-setter, ballistic computer, laser pointer and illuminator.

ATK's partners in the XM25 project include Heckler and Koch of Sterling, Va. and L-3 Brashear, Pittsburgh.