ATK at the Paris exhibition Eurosatory-2014 presented a new self-loading hand grenade launcher XM-25, which was developed for the US armed forces, according to the website
The company began experiments to create weapons of this type ten years ago. But even the mid-2000s cannot be considered the beginning of the history of the development of such weapons, since there were earlier versions. These are infantry assault rifles. These assault rifles came with a semi-automatic grenade launcher. To be more precise, the grenade launcher was not just attached, but was built into the small arms system. The weapon was equipped with an OICW sighting module. However, experts did not see much potential in this kind of weapon, considering it not only expensive and cumbersome, but also quite difficult to maintain.
In 2005, the development of a new XM8 LAR assault rifle was frozen, but the company began to develop a project of a grenade launcher with an electronic sighting system. Such a grenade launcher will allow you to strike at the enemy located behind temporary shelters. For use in an operation on the territory of Afghanistan, such a grenade launcher was considered very suitable.
Not only ATK, but also Heckler & Koch's, together with L3 IOS, had a hand in the development of the new grenade launcher. The company, indicated by the latter, developed a fire control system and a target designation segment. The system has been renamed many times over the years. The last option before the naming approved today was the "Individual Airburst Weapon System" - IAWS, replacing the previous CDTE.
The developers approved the name XM-25 Individual Semi-Automatic Airburst weapon System or XM-25 ISAAS.
The development of the system continued after American parliamentarians decided to cut funding for military development in order to reduce the growth rate of the huge US government debt.
In Afghanistan, prototypes of such weapons have been used. The XM-25 ISAAS were mainly operated by the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division. At the beginning of this year, the program was switched to LRIP mode, which corresponds to the initial stage of production.
The XM-25 ISAAS is a semi-automatic grenade launcher that has a bullpup layout. The grenade launcher is powered by 25 mm grenades with a 40 mm sleeve. A removable magazine can be "loaded" with four ammunition.
Targeting and fire control systems TA / FCS have an optical sight with 2x magnification, as well as a thermal imaging sight. The system includes a laser rangefinder, a ballistic computer and even a special electronic compass that calculates drift and altitude angles. The weapon, among other things, is equipped with a series of sensors and a display.
The grenade used in the semi-automatic XM25 has a special chip. With the help of this chip, the ammunition can be adjusted both to the target's range and to the time after which the grenade will be activated (until it hits the target directly). The setting of such parameters is carried out by means of buttons with which the trigger is equipped.
The XM25 is very effective against lightly armed opponents hiding behind obstacles. American soldiers called this type of grenade launcher "the punisher". The name is in the spirit of American democratizers.
The semi-automatic XM25 has a range exceeding that of the M203 or M320. In addition, its accuracy is superior to many other grenade launchers used in the modern US Army. The 25x40mm grenade does not have the power that the 40x46mm-SR has, but it is precisely the accuracy and range of flight that allow experts to highly appreciate the XM25 weapon.
The developers of the ATK company today are busy with the fact that they are going to create a complex using five different types of ammunition: from training (non-lethal) to anti-aircraft, high-explosive fragmentation and thermobaric.
