29June05

ATK's premier XM-25 system made its first public appearance recently at a military trade show. This project has been in the works for a few years, b ut, if view of its recent stellar performance, fielding is now imminent.

This is a man-portable, 25mm, air-bursting grenade system. An integral, laser, range-finder determines the range and automatically sets the burst t ime of the grenade. When launched, the grenade bursts directly above the targe t or shortly after the warhead enters a door or window. Maximum range is 500 m. American Infantrymen will soon have a formidable, new advantage, particularly in urban fighting.

Now, if we can just have, once more (after an unhappy, forty-year dance wit h varmint rifles), a genuine 500m rifle, that shoots THROUGH things, the individual infantryman will once again assume his rightful place as Weapon- System One.

"Some people have greatness thrust upon them, but few have excellenc e thrust upon them. They achieve it, not unwittingly, by doing what comes naturally , nor do they stumble into it in the course of amusing themselves. No! All true excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose. Nothing worthwhile may be had without effort."

John W Gardner

/John