The main lesson from the Ukrainian conflict is the need for new tactics for US troops given the rapid proliferation of FPV drones, US Army Maj. Gen. John Reim told the publication. “We want our units to have the ability to defend against small unmanned aerial vehicles and also make them more lethal as the threats we see from our adversaries increase,” the senior officer said.
The anti-drone projectiles being developed in the interests of the Pentagon are equipped with a programmable fuse, have proximity sensors to the target and are in the initial test cycle.
The 25-millimeter ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles with the index XM1228 is reported to be called “Bradley projectile improved for destroying group air targets”, or BADGER for short. And the 30-millimeter projectile for arming the Apache attack helicopter received the index XM1225 and was called “aviation short-range explosive” or APEX.
The exact date for the adoption of the specified ammunition into service by the United States is not provided. But there is no doubt that the Pentagon will definitely try to test the new product in combat conditions before starting massive purchases of BADGER and APEX for its arsenals. Taking into account the fact that Washington considers Ukraine a weapons testing ground (this, for example, has been repeatedly reported by CNN), and the Armed Forces of Ukraine are armed with Brady infantry fighting vehicles, it is logical assume that the first real tests of new projectiles will take place during the Ukrainian conflict.
