Developed and managed by Product Manager Medium Caliber Ammunition at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, the XM1225 APEX cartridge is designed to counter modern threats including UAS, exposed personnel, and small boats without requiring modifications to the Apache’s M230 Area Weapon System or fire control system. The round has undergone extensive safety testing to ensure reliable performance and is intended to integrate seamlessly into existing platforms while enhancing lethality and operational flexibility.
The test was conducted by PdM MCA and involved Project Manager Apache, the Army Evaluation Center, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center and Armaments Center, Yuma Test Center, and Redstone Test Center. Its primary objective was to evaluate the XM1225’s accuracy and compare it with the legacy M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose cartridge under identical conditions, while also collecting data on mixed loads of XM1225 and M789 rounds against ground and UAS targets.
Initial results showed the XM1225 met all accuracy requirements and demonstrated strong effectiveness against both ground and aerial threats, with its proximity fuze enabling detonation near a target to create a larger lethal radius. Maj. Vincent Franchino, test pilot and Attack Division chief at Redstone Test Center, said, “The XM1225’s proximity fuze has the potential to increase soft skinned ground and aerial target vulnerability, providing the Attack community an additional capability so long as those targets are susceptible to detection, classification, and tracking.”
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dan Riggs, a test pilot at Redstone Test Center, highlighted the round’s operational compatibility, stating, “The APEX round’s ballistic similarity to the currently fielded HEDP in conjunction with its increased burst radius on target provides an additional capability to the Apache’s lethality without requiring substantial training requirement on the maintainers or pilots who fire it.” Walter McCormick, lead test officer at Yuma Test Center, underscored the collaborative effort behind the trial, saying, “The successful and safe execution of this test is the result of meticulous planning and coordination with multiple agencies. This teamwork ensures we deliver the best capabilities to our warfighters.”
The Armaments Center developed the proximity fuze technology and, in collaboration with PdM MCA, is providing data to Northrop Grumman to set production, accelerate delivery, and achieve an Urgent Materiel Release. The test was supported by the Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems Warfighter Ammunition Information Program, which gathers real-time field feedback, as the Army moves to accelerate fielding of the XM1225 APEX cartridge to address emerging threats with enhanced precision and lethality.
