The military has always been searching for a way to reach the enemy that is hiding behind sandbags, walls, or trenches, as soldiers have fought in such places. The issue is ancient wars—when gunfire starts, all parties take cover. The answer was the same for the conflict in WWI trenches as for the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan: how can you kill an opponent whom you cannot see directly?
The Origins of the XM25
The XM25 was meant to equip small units of infantry with the capacity to strike enemies behind protective cover—something that standard rifles and conventional grenade launchers could not accomplish.
Developed by Orbital ATK, the XM25 was a semi-automatic, shoulder-fired weapon firing 25mm programmable airburst ammunition.
This wasn’t simply a larger grenade launcher—it was intelligent. The American military took decades looking for a solution, and in the early going, the XM25 “Punisher” grenade launcher was supposed to provide it.
With a built-in laser rangefinder, the XM25 was able to measure the exact distance from a target, such as the inside of a window or a foxhole. The onboard fire control system calculated that the grenade would detonate at a very exact spot in the air, showering shrapnel over anyone trying to stay hidden.
It had an excellent range, also: 600 meters for spot targets and 700 meters for area targets, considerably more than the M203. Its fire control system had thermal sights, a ball computer, and a digital display. The grenades themselves included microchips, tracking their spinning in flight to detonate precisely where they were meant to.
First Engagements and Growing Reputation
The XM25 was first tested in the field in Afghanistan, where five sets and 1,000 rounds were provided to the 101st Airborne Division. During more than a year of combat, troops employed it in a number of battles.
The early reports were effusive—troops referred to it as a “game changer” that rendered enemy cover all but irrelevant. The Army even declared it its number-one priority to fill a significant capability gap for ground soldiers.
Where Things Went Wrong
But the enthusiasm didn’t last. The XM25 was heavy—more than 14 pounds without a round, and a full combat load with 36 rounds could weigh 35 pounds or more. That was too much for troops who already were carrying rifles, ammunition, and equipment. Some units refused point-blank to deploy it on missions, choosing instead the more adaptive M4 carbine.
Off the battlefield, however, the program was in more trouble. Expenses skyrocketed—a single XM25 once costing more than $90,000—and by 2017, the Army terminated its deal with Orbital ATK after the company was unable to produce the agreed quantity of units.
The XM25’s Legacy
In spite of its brief service life, the XM25 made its mark on future weapons design. Testing in the field produced over 1,300 suggestions for improvement, several of which are now shaping the Army’s new Precision Grenadier System (PGS).
The PGS is currently imagined as a lighter, more resilient counter-defilade weapon with a 500-meter range and several specialized rounds—including rounds that can strike light vehicles and drones.
As Don Sando, head of the Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, explained, fighting behind cover is a tough issue that can’t be addressed with a single solution. The XM25 wasn’t the magic bullet solution, perhaps, but it moved the Army toward its goal of making battlefield cover less refuge. The “Punisher” might be gone, but its vision—to eliminate the blessing of cover—still influences the future of infantry firepower.