XM-25 Kaboomed, Removed From Service.

Rob Curtis reports that last month a XM-25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement system kaboomed and injured the operator.

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The Army’s XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement system has been removed from service after a training accident injured a soldier in Afghanistan early last month.

A soldier was injured during a Feb. 2 live-fire training event during which the primer of a 25mm high-explosive air burst round ignited as a result of a double feed, according to Army spokesman Matthew Bourke.

Although the primer and propellant were initiated, safety mechanisms prevented the round’s warhead from detonating. The gun was inoperable after the explosion.

“The gunner training on the weapon system received superficial injuries,” said Bourke. “The gunner was medically evaluated and returned to duty.”

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The XM25 is a bullpup and the kaboom would have been only inches from the operators face. While ideally a weapon would never fail, the prototype failed in a manner that caused little damage to the operator which shows the design is solid.