New guns get thumbs up from troops
Published: April 14, 2011
WASHINGTON -- U.S. forces are sending back enthusiastic reports about two new weapons they've been trying out in combat against Taliban forces, the Army officer who oversees soldiers’ equipment said Thursday.
Prototypes of the XM25 "Punisher," an advanced grenade launcher that allows troops to detonate explosive rounds in mid-air behind enemy cover, have been tested by several undisclosed units, Brig. Gen. Peter N. Fuller of Program Executive Office Soldier said Thursday.
"I'm just flabbergasted; these are prototype weapons holding up in combat very well," he said. "They are not breaking."
Troops say the XM25 gives them a distinct advantage in firefights.
"You'll hear comments coming out of the field that the XM25 is breaking parity" in engagements with the Taliban, Fuller said. "You can now engage them behind whatever defilade they find."
Soldiers have also sent given high marks to the XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle, which has an effective range of 1,200 meters -- 400 meters farther than the current 7.62mm sniper rifle.
