The Factory Acceptance Trials (FAT) were conducted at Yuma Proving Ground and “validated the performance, reliability, and integrated safety features of the XM204”, the new top-attack smart anti-tank mine developed by Textron Systems in partnership with the Army. Following FAT approval, the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Oklahoma, began low-rate initial production.

The XM204 is a hand emplaced, top attack, anti-vehicular munition consisting of a Dispenser Launcher Module (DLM), armed with 4 top attack sub-munitions. Once manually armed, the XM204 system autonomously detects, tracks and engages target vehicles using seismic & acoustic sensors and radar within the DLM, and multi-array thermal & laser detection sensors within the Top Attack Sub-munition. The sub-munitions are launched by a rocket motor that confers them their stand off capability and they engage their target using a High Melt Explosive (HMX) initiated warhead.

This mine complies with Landmine Policy including those limitations on sub-munitions and anti-personnel characteristics that the US has decided to embrace from the Oslo and Ottawa Treaties.

The XM204 can be employed alone or in multiples, and in tandem with other “terrain shaping” weapons. It includes tamper-resistant features, armed/safe indicators and self-destruct timers that reduce post-conflict risks to civilians.

The employment of XM204 in tandem with the VOLCANO OBSTACLE (rapidly deployed, surface-laid anti-vehicle mines used to quickly create barriers to constrain enemy movements) can create extremely effective obstacles to enemy manoeuvre while reducing to a minimum the actual distribution of explosive hazards on the terrain. The VOLCANO canister-launchers for the surface laid mines are most commonly seen in banks on engineer vehicles or even on helicopters tasked with rapidly laying barriers, but the adoption of the XM343 Standoff Activated Volcano Obstacle (SAVO) has led to a stand-off mine-laying device composed of 4 VOLCANO canisters (each M87 “tube” contains 6 mines) attached to a baseplate with M7 Spider Networked Munition System. This “mine” only triggers the VOLCANO if it is activated by enemy movement, otherwise remains “dormant” and can quickly be recovered.

The combination of XM204 and SAVO represent the latest US Army solution to the creation of explosive anti-vehicle barriers. Tests in the field have demonstrated that the XM204 can reliably initiate the XM343 base plates, enabling timely deployment of M87A1 Volcano canisters, thereby simultaneously deploying stand-off top-attack munitions and surface-laid, bottom attack mines in the path of the enemy. The VOLCANO mines are deployed with a 48 hours self-destruct move.

117 XM204 live units were ordered pre-FY2023 and a further 207 in FY2024. No further procurement was funded in the FY 2025 request. Further research and development funding for the system is included in the FY 2026 budget request.

In the meanwhile, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, will be the first unit to field the XM204. The new munition distribution began in September, with training to be delivered over the course of this Fall. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is projected for the first quarter of FY2026 to meet the operational needs of United States Army Europe (USAREUR). 

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X.