The U.S. Army’s XM25 Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst System will continue to receive development support from ATK under a contract modification. Under the $24 million modification, the Minnesota company will provide the Army with additional ammunition, hardware, test and analysis support to further user assessments of the XM25.
The ISAAS consists of a rifle that fires a 25mm airburst round that is programmed by the weapon’s integrated target acquisition and fire control system to detonate directly above an intended target.
The system allows soldiers to quickly and accurately engage targets by displaying an adjusted aim point based on range, environmental factors and user inputs. 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.
The Army began a Forward Operational Assessment of the XM25 last year with soldiers in Afghanistan to determine its capabilities through use in actual combat operations. Based on the weapon’s initial success throughout the FOA, the Army has requested the items necessary to continue further weapon assessments.
“The XM25 provides the individual soldier with an advanced capability to quickly engage targets hidden behind walls or in defilade,” said Bruce DeWitt, vice president and general manager for ATK Advanced Weapons. “By putting smart technology into the soldiers’ hands, we’re able to provide them with a distinct battlefield advantage by taking away an adversary’s ability to hide behind cover.”
ATK last March received a $65.8 million Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract from the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier for the XM25. This 30-month EMD contract provided the necessary funding for the continuing design, integration, production, and testing of full-up systems to ensure the weapon’s final design meets performance requirements and is production-ready prior to Army-wide fielding.
ATK is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the program. Program management is headquartered at ATK’s Advanced Weapons Division in Plymouth, Minn. Program partners include Heckler and Koch of Sterling, Va., and L-3 Brashear of Pittsburgh. (UPI)
