Military technology is based on the principle of escalation. One army invented the sword, another invented the shield to block the sword, and so on. The current upgrade cycle revolves around unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and weapons designed to knock them out of the sky. Ukraine is currently developing a drone-shooting laser that can fit in the trunk of a car, while the United States would rather turn one of its famous helicopters into a long-range shotgun.
In December 2025, the U.S. Army conducted field testing of the 30x113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) munition using an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The weapon system is designed to detonate near a target, ejecting shrapnel over a wide area of ​​impact. This feature allows each round of the XM1225 APEX to hit multiple smaller targets that a single round might otherwise miss. For example, targets such as drone swarms would overwhelm aircraft carrier defenses. Perhaps more importantly, the XM1225 APEX has been designed specifically for use with the Apache’s M230 area weapon system, reducing installation turnaround time.
While the purpose of the weapons test was to demonstrate the XM1225 APEX’s “accuracy, versatility and lethality” against a variety of drones at varying ranges, the test also aimed to compare the XM1225 APEX to a similar weapon, the M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) cartridge. APEX not only hit the target, but provided a larger “blast radius” than HEDP.
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The U.S. Army is always looking for bigger, more powerful weapons
Front view of the Apache canopy while parked on the tarmac. -Kayla Bartkoski/Getty Images
Boeing’s AH-64 Apache has been the backbone of the U.S. Army since 1984. This long history means the vehicle has gone through a veritable revolving door of weapons, many of which have destroyed drones in the past. So why does the Apache need a weapon designed to take out drones? Because that’s not the case. While the XM1225 APEX is arguably more capable of knocking out drones than the M780 HEDP, the weapons tests mentioned above indicate that the XM1225 APEX can “increase the vulnerability of soft-skinned ground and aerial targets” and do more than damage drones.
Essentially, the XM1225 APEX will be able to fulfill all the roles of the M780 HEDP. Of course, this leaves an open question: why the AH-64 Apache? Apache already has a suite of features and capabilities that can hunt and destroy drones, according to sites like Military.com. Thanks to its Longbow radar and modern target acquisition indicator sighting system, the helicopter is fast, can track small targets, and can be replaced with different weapons to suit the target. All the Army needs now is a way for the AH-64 Apache to carry DARPA’s High Pulse Microwave Drone Fryer (and shrink it down so it weighs less than 10 tons) so that the helicopter can become the perfect counter-drone threat.
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