“The Army’s XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement system has been removed from service after a training accident injured a soldier in Afghanistan early last month,” militarytimes.com reports. “A soldier was injured during a Feb. 2 live-fire training event during which the primer of a 25mm high-explosive air burst round ignited as a result of a double feed, according to Army spokesman Matthew Bourke. Although the primer and propellant were initiated, safety mechanisms prevented the round’s warhead from detonating. The gun was inoperable after the explosion.” Ya think? It’s not the first time the XM25 has fed two rounds into the same chamber . . .
This is the second XM25 malfunction resulting in primer and propellant initiation prior to the round being fully chambered and locked. The first involved an earlier prototype and resulted in no injuries. This latest XM25 design prototype features design revisions that addressed the cause of the prior malfunction.
Or not. Anyway, the soldier’s OK and it’s all part of the learning curve for what’s becoming extremely popular weapon (in video games as well as RL). In other words, it’s down but not out. Not by a long chalk . . .
“Based on preliminary findings, the most recent malfunction occurred differently than the previous one,” said Bourke, “It’s also important to note that there were nearly 5,900 rounds fired between incidents.” . . .
Prior to the accident, the XM25 was very popular among soldiers who dubbed it “the Punisher.” The head of PEO Soldier at the time, Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, called it “a revolutionary weapon … a game changer.”
A game changer deployed in a war where the game never ends. Go figure.