Airburst round
An airburst round is a type of tactical anti-personnel and anti-aircraft explosive ammunition, typically a shell or grenade, that detonates in midair, causing air burst effect fragment damage to enemy personnel or aircraft. In the latter case, airburst rounds are used in anti-aircraft or "zenith" cannon, known in military slang as FLAK or ack-ack.
This makes it easier to hit enemy soldiers behind a wall, in a defensive fighting position, or in a confined space or room. It is used on many guns, from artillery to the hand-held XM25 Individual Airburst Weapon System. Unlike traditional grenades, such as the 40 mm grenade, smart grenades can be electronically programmed to explode after travelling a certain distance. A fire control computer or some other electronic sighting system is used to quickly program the electronic fuse with any distance, as conditions dictate.
Orbital ATK developed 30x173mm Mk310 PABM-T airburst rounds for Mk44 Bushmaster II.
Terminology
It is also called an airburst shell, air burst grenade, programmable ammunition, 3P ammunition or smart grenade.List of airburst round platforms
- 20 mm grenade
- *XM29 OICW
- *Daewoo K11
- *QTS-11
- 25 mm grenade:
- *XM25 Individual Airburst Weapon System
- *XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon
- *Barrett XM109
- 30 mm
- *Shipunov 2A42
- *2A72
- *Mk44 Bushmaster II
- *Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM
- *Rheinmetall Wotan 30 ABM
- *Rheinmetall KCE
- 35 mm
- *PAPOP
- *Norinco QLU-11
- *Rheinmetall Wotan 35 ABM
- *Rheinmetall AHEAD 35
- *Skyshield; Skynex
- 40 mm
- *Bofors [40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]
- *Mk 47 Striker
- *Multi Caliber [Individual Weapon System]
- *Norinco LG5
- *K40
- *40mm CTA
- *Atom 40 mm
- 57 mm
- *AU-220M
- 84 mm
- *Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle
- 125 mm grenade
- *M-84AS1
External media
Category:Grenades
Category:Ammunition