ATK receives XM25 airburst system contract

ATK announced on 12 September that it has received an engineering and manufacturing development contract modification from the US Army's Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier for its XM25, Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst System. The $16.8 million contract funds the continuing design, integration, production and testing of fully functional systems to ensure the weapon's final design meets performance requirements and is production-ready prior to fielding.

The XM25 is a rifle that fires a 25mm airbursting round programmed by the weapon's integrated target acquisition and fire control system to burst directly above a designated target. The system allows soldiers to quickly and accurately engage targets by producing an adjusted aimpoint based on range, environmental factors, and user inputs.

Early XM25 prototype weapons were deployed in Afghanistan from November 2010 through May 2012 by the army for Forward Operational Assessments (FOA). During these assessments soldiers actively employed the weapon on patrols in areas experiencing high levels of enemy activity. Soldier feedback validated that the XM25 provides ‘a unique combat advantage’.

Furthermore, the FOA provided information that will inform decisions regarding tactics, training, basis of issue, and system improvements prior to the weapon's fielding. ATK – the prime contractor, systems integrator and ammunition provider for the XM25 programme - will be supporting another army XM25 FOA scheduled for 2013 with a 36-gun battalion set of new pre-production prototypes.

Bruce DeWitt, vice president and general manager of ATK's Armament Systems Division, said: ‘The XM25 has been battle-proven by our soldiers during US Army operational assessments conducted in Afghanistan. We are very pleased with this system's performance and the overmatch capability it delivers to our warfighters.  We are focused on quickly making this weapon ready for production.’