An XM204 anti-vehicle mine lies on the ground ahead of testing in this undated photo. The mine is being fast-tracked for use across the Army after successful testing at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, in December 2025. (U.S. Army)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — A smart anti-tank munition that helps soldiers hold their own against tracked vehicles is being hurried to the force after successful testing in Bavaria.
The Army’s XM204 interim “top-attack” munition was approved for urgent materiel release, a procurement term that means speeding a weapons system into the field to meet an immediate operational requirement, an Army statement Monday said.
The test of the briefcase-sized munition was done in early December by soldiers of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment at the sprawling Grafenwoehr Training Area in Bavaria.
Eight trainers from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center at Hohenfels also attended a “train-the-trainer” course so they can teach other soldiers how to effectively use the weapon, the statement said.
After being placed and armed by hand, the XM204 detects oncoming vehicles and autonomously fires submunitions into the air. It can be used alone, in multiples, or in tandem with other systems, according to an Army fact sheet.
After launch, the submunitions scan the area, verify a target, then fire an armor-piercing slug. The system has a 160-foot attack radius and can fire a total of four munitions, according to the manufacturer, Textron.
The device is called a terrain-shaping munition because it is designed to block, disrupt, fix and turn an enemy force, the service said in a previous statement. It allows a small force to repel or slow enemy armor until reinforcements arrive.
Having it in the arsenal helps slow an adversary’s movements and protect U.S. forces, Maj. Gen. John Reim, joint program executive officer for armaments and ammunition at Picatinny Arsenal, said in a September statement.
“This system gives our warfighters a decisive edge as we train and operate alongside NATO allies,” Reim said.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, is the first unit to field the XM204, the earlier statement said. The regiment tested the munition for performance, reliability and safety.
Textron was awarded a five-year, $353 million contract in 2022.
