The Apache Attack Helicopter AH-64 has completed a successful live fire trial of the new 30x113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) ammunition at the US Army’s Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
Product Manager Medium Caliber Ammunition (PdM MCA) conducted the test in December 2025.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The exercise included the helicopter’s initial air-to-air shot using 30mm proximity rounds against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) targets positioned at various distances.
The primary aim was to verify the accuracy of the XM1225 cartridge and compare its performance with the established M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) round under identical conditions.
Data was also gathered from mixed loads of XM1225 and M789 rounds fired at both ground and UAS targets.
Initial assessments indicated “highly successful” outcomes, with test officials reporting the XM1225 “meeting all accuracy requirements” and performing effectively against both ground-based and aerial threats.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe round’s proximity-fuzed capability enables it to detonate near its target, expanding its lethal radius and enhancing its ability to engage airborne or dispersed threats.
PdM MCA from Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, led development and management of the XM1225 APEX cartridge.
The design allows use against a range of modern threats including UAS, exposed personnel, and small boats without requiring any modifications to the Apache’s M230 Area Weapon System or its fire control system.
The Armaments Center supplied the proximity fuze technology and partnered with PdM MCA to share data with Northrup Grumman for production decisions, rapid delivery, and achieving Urgent Materiel Release status.
Personnel from Project Manager Apache, Army Evaluation Center, US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center and DEVCOM Armaments Center, Yuma Test Center, and Redstone Test Center participated in the testing process.
Yuma Test Center lead test officer Walter McCormick said: “The successful and safe execution of this test is the result of meticulous planning and coordination with multiple agencies. This teamwork ensures we deliver the best capabilities to our warfighters.”
The Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems Warfighter Ammunition Information Program (WAIP) supported the event by deploying retired senior non-commissioned officers to collect real-time feedback during the ammunition acquisition process.
Christopher Butts, WAIP representative for aviation, attended the trial to supervise ammunition loading at refuelling and rearming points and joined all After Action Reviews and briefings.
