With the increasing efficacy of adversarial militaries and ever-increasing threats to international borders, defense systems must present a new, flexible and adaptable challenge for threat forces to overcome. The armed forces of the NATO Alliance and Partners for Peace face a critical capability gap while conducting counter-mobility operations.
Textron Systems has developed a new top-attack, anti-vehicle munition system that is unique within NATO and provides a lethal, effective counter-mobility solution to augment a commander’s menu of options. With a U.S. Army contract in hand and production underway, the XM204 anti-vehicle munition system will provide ground forces a highly portable and rapidly emplaced system to control an area of roughly 8,000 square meters in just a few minutes.
The XM204 incorporates an intuitive design that requires less than one day of training. The system can be operated by a variety of military specialties and offers rapid anti-armor protection for various tactical scenarios.
Purpose-built to create a new challenge for threat forces, the XM204 attacks the top deck of armored vehicles from a standoff position, greatly increasing threat resources and time to breach. The system is designed to be employed in accordance with NATO doctrine, and can be employed as a single unit, in multiples, or in tandem with other terrain shaping systems. With four munitions per launcher, the XM204 can engage up to four distinct verified targets from a single unit.
The XM204 uses multiple discriminatory sensors to identify and target specific vehicular signatures. In addition, the XM204 mitigates danger to follow-on forces and non-combatants. The system is non-persistent and uses proven integral self-destruct mechanisms to virtually eliminate unexploded ordnance and dangerous residue.
As armies adjust their doctrine to fight in multiple domains against peer and near-peer adversaries, systems like the XM204 will be crucial in enhancing cross-domain maneuverability and increasing tactical protection for U.S. and allied forces. The XM204 anti-vehicle system will help soldiers control the physical landscape by creating flexible, challenging obstacles in the terrain, slowing down enemy vehicles and preventing their advancement.
In a world where threats from peer and near-peer competitors and adversaries are constant, the XM204 is a mature, capable and reliable choice for both deterrence and lethal effectiveness. The XM204 anti-vehicle munition system is poised to meet the needs of soldiers on the ground and provide a critical capability in counter mobility operations.
