XM-25 to be fielded in Afghanistan

[Al Thompson]

MK 19s had problems too. Buddy of mine was torn up pretty good by one during the initial fielding @ 1985ish.

 

[Owen]

Isnt this the same system that nearly killed one of the testers when the round malfunctioned and detonated right outside the barrel?
__________________

Malfunctions during testing are expected. That's what the development testing is for. If a system makes it through testing with no issues, then the testing isn't really testing, its a whitewash.

 

[Sgt_R]

Isnt this the same system that nearly killed one of the testers when the round malfunctioned and detonated right outside the barrel?

Malfunctions during testing are expected. That's what the development testing is for.

See also: V-22 Osprey

R

 

[HorseSoldier]

MK 19s had problems too. Buddy of mine was torn up pretty good by one during the initial fielding @ 1985ish.

They're still kind of temperamental beasts.

Isnt this the same system that nearly killed one of the testers when the round malfunctioned and detonated right outside the barrel?

Can't recall if that was this or the XM-307, but I recall the same story from a few years ago.

you know what all that stuff means to me? more crap to fail. digital compass???common man

On the plus side, compare the pics of that thing from the current news versus the pictures of the same unit from the old OICW promo-pics. They've done a lot to pare down the size and weight.

 

[leadcounsel]

I also think criticism of the weight is silly. It wasn't long ago that the average grunt's rifle was 11-12lbs with a single loaded magazine, and I haven't noticed average grunts shrinking in the last couple decades. Sure, body armor is a new heavy thing to carry, but radio gear and field rations have gotten much lighter in the same time.

I suspect that you, Sir, have never been a combat Soldier/Marine. Don't scoff at the weight issue. Joint injuries and heat casualties are a valid concern. Having humped some heavy gear in my days (deployed and in training) I'm not envious about adding another 20 pounds to an already unsustainable amount to carry for any reasonable distance or heck even be agile and mobile.

 

[RP88]

so instead of just improving what they have, they field something they know really nothing about.

I do not see any practicality to this.

What they should have just done was make a grenade that goes farther and makes a much bigger hole.

This is another result of poor non-linear developmental thinking, in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong: the tech could easily find a good niche with more development into other weapons systems, but... sheesh, what a waste of our money.

"The airburst grenade. Just what you need to take down enemies behind cover so deep and thick and so far away that you'll still call in air support because it won't work or because in the time it takes to set the fuse and range-finder the operator would have taken four x54R bullets to the head."

 

[Cosmoline]

Oh well. I suppose we should be happy they're actually spending .00000000001% of the monthly budget on actual men in actual combat.

 

[Owen]

they aren't adding this weight....it will be the grenadier's weapon, IIRC