The US Army has conducted live-fire testing of an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter equipped with the new 30×113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive round, developed to counter unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). During the evaluation, the Apache engaged aerial targets at multiple distances, demonstrating the munition’s precision, adaptability, and lethality. Traditionally, the Apache’s M230 Chain Gun fires the M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) round, optimized for light armor and personnel. The trial directly compared the XM1225’s performance against the legacy HEDP under identical conditions. Additional testing assessed mixed ammunition loads combining XM1225 and M789 rounds against both ground and aerial threats. Initial findings indicate the XM1225 met all accuracy benchmarks and proved highly effective in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, significantly expanding the Apache’s mission envelope in contested airspace. The proximity fuse enables detonation near targets, increasing lethal radius against drones and dispersed threats. Notably, the round integrates seamlessly with the existing M230 system without hardware or software modifications. Developed at Picatinny Arsenal with DEVCOM Armaments Center support and produced with Northrop Grumman collaboration, the munition achieved Urgent Materiel Release to accelerate fielding.
