The United States Army has successfully conducted a live-fire test of an AH-64 Apache helicopter equipped with a proximity-fused munition developed to address the escalating threat of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
During the evaluation, the Apache engaged aerial targets using the 30×113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive round at multiple distances. The trial confirmed the munition’s precision, adaptability, and destructive capability against airborne threats, representing a key advancement in rotary-wing counter-UAS operations.
Although the Apache is primarily configured for anti-armor roles — deploying air-to-ground weapons such as the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile and Hellfire variants — it also employs its M230 Chain Gun for engagements involving light armored vehicles and personnel. Traditionally, the weapon fires the M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) round, which delivers both armor penetration and fragmentation effects.
The recent test aimed chiefly to evaluate the XM1225’s accuracy and compare its performance directly with the legacy HEDP round under identical operational conditions. A secondary objective involved gathering data on mixed ammunition configurations — combining XM1225 and M789 rounds — against both ground-based targets and UAS.
Initial findings indicate that the XM1225 achieved all required accuracy standards and demonstrated high effectiveness against both aerial and surface targets, significantly enhancing the Apache’s mission versatility in contested airspace.
Proximity-Fused Advantage
The XM1225’s proximity-fuse mechanism enables detonation near a target, expanding its lethal radius and increasing effectiveness against dispersed and airborne threats. This capability broadens the Apache’s operational envelope, supporting both air-to-ground and limited air-to-air engagements in modern multi-domain battlefields.
The munition is overseen by the Product Manager Medium Caliber Ammunition at Picatinny Arsenal and integrates seamlessly with the Apache’s M230 Area Weapon System without requiring hardware or software modifications.
Extensive safety and reliability trials have validated consistent performance across diverse operational scenarios. Beyond counter-UAS missions, the XM1225 is designed to neutralize exposed personnel and small maritime threats, including fast attack craft.
The proximity-fuse technology was developed by the DEVCOM Armaments Center, which collaborated with Northrop Grumman to support production readiness, accelerate fielding timelines, and secure an Urgent Materiel Release for rapid deployment.
