Will This Weapon Change Infantry Warfare Forever? by Franz-Stefan Gady. The U.S. Army is introducing a new shoulder-fired precision-guided grenade launcher, called the XM25, effective against enemies protected by walls, dug into foxholes or hidden in hard-to-reach places. It uses a revolutionary high-explosive, airburst ammunition programmed by the weapon’s target acquisition/fire control system. The XM25 fires a grenade that is programmed, as it is fired, to go off directly above the enemy.

The weapon’s potential revolutionary impact on infantry tactics is undeniable. “The introduction of the XM25 is akin to other revolutionary systems such as the machine gun, the airplane and the tank, all of which changed battlefield tactics. No longer will our Soldiers have to expose themselves by firing and maneuvering to eliminate an enemy behind cover. Our Soldiers can remain covered/protected and use their XM25 to neutralize an enemy in his covered position.”