U.S. Army begins low-rate initial production of XM204 anti-tank top-attack munition.

The U.S. Army has started low-rate initial production of the XM204 anti-tank top-attack munition. Training and first deliveries to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Germany are planned for fall 2025.

On September 17, 2025, the U.S. Army approved low-rate initial production of the XM204 anti-tank top-attack terrain-shaping munition and scheduled initial deliveries and New Equipment Training for the Vilseck-based 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Rose Barracks, Germany, this fall. Developed with Textron Systems under the Army’s Terrain Shaping Obstacles program, the XM204 is a manually emplaced, sensor-fuzed anti-vehicle weapon that uses a top-attack profile to defeat armored vehicles. Why it matters: The munition expands U.S. counter-mobility options in Europe and strengthens deterrence for NATO allies.
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The XM204 has been tested against Soviet T-72 tanks at Yuma Proving Ground, where its sensor-fuzed submunitions successfully struck the tank's thinner roof armor with explosively formed penetrators. (Picture source: US Army)

The development of the XM204 began in alignment with the US Army’s modernization priorities for advanced mines and munitions and area-denial capabilities. The Project Manager for Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), within the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition at Picatinny Arsenal, initiated the project to give soldiers a deployable capability for shaping terrain through complex obstacles. In early 2020, the project team faced significant challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic restricted travel and in-person reviews.

System requirements and functional reviews, which normally would have been conducted face-to-face, were instead adapted to remote, computer-based sessions involving up to 80 participants. The team used WebEx under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) and created new methods for sharing materials, answering questions, and conducting assessments. By April 2020, the team successfully completed both the system requirements review and the system functional review, setting the foundation for preliminary design and subsequent development stages despite pandemic disruptions.

The programme timeline and contract milestones are concrete: the US Army awarded Textron Systems an IDIQ production contract in July 2022 worth up to $354 million for production, trainers and spares. First Article Testing was completed in government-led trials at Yuma Proving Ground, with announcements released on 29 April 2025 and May 2025, confirming system readiness for fielding. Low-rate initial production subsequently began at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma. Joint Munitions Command cleared the system for release in September 2025, and New Equipment Training is scheduled for delivery to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck during the fall. Export-related documentation includes a Defense Security Cooperation Agency finding dated 25 October 2023 that set a nonrecurring cost recoupment charge of $2,319,448 per XM204 for foreign sales.

The XM204 system architecture is centered on a dispenser launcher module weighing 38 kilograms and carrying four sensor-fuzed top-attack submunitions. Each module establishes a 50-metre strike radius and, when used in multiples, can cover areas on the order of 8,000 square metres. The submunitions employ seismic, acoustic, and radar sensors for initial detection and tracking, followed by terminal sensors, including infrared, to confirm vehicle signatures. Once verified, an explosively formed penetrator is initiated downward against the upper surfaces of the vehicle, which are typically less protected than frontal or side armor. The system has been successfully tested against T-72 tanks at Yuma Proving Ground and is designed to operate effectively against main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and wheeled logistics vehicles.

Portability and rapid emplacement are defining characteristics of the XM204. Each launcher is light enough for a two-person team to carry, can be emplaced and armed in under five minutes, and requires only eight hours of training and certification. The munition is transportable by any ground vehicle, helicopter, or cargo aircraft, and can be palletized for larger-scale movement. It is designed to be effective even in GPS-denied environments, and when not armed, it is recoverable and reusable. These features allow commanders to employ the XM204 to rapidly establish temporary obstacles, reconfigure defensive positions, or channel enemy forces with minimal logistical burden, providing greater operational flexibility than traditional anti-tank minefields.

The XM204 also incorporates a series of safety and post-conflict risk reduction measures. The system includes tamper-resistant elements, visual armed/safe indicators, and a 30-minute arming delay to ensure friendly forces can move to safe distances. It is equipped with programmable self-destruct timers that can be set at four hours, 48 hours, or 15 days, reducing the long-term risk of unexploded ordnance. These safety features were specifically designed to align with U.S. Department of Defense policy on non-persistent mines and to mitigate civilian risks after combat operations. These measures also ensure the XM204 complies with international norms regarding landmine use while still offering a reliable obstacle against enemy armor in contested areas.

Because top-attack munitions such as the XM204 engage from above using standoff activation, soldiers can deny terrain without remaining in exposed positions, which enhances survivability. Its capacity to block, delay, or redirect hostile vehicle formations allows commanders to shape the battlefield, impose delays, and create conditions for counterattack or reinforcement. Compared to persistent mines, the XM204 offers a controllable and non-permanent solution that can be repositioned or set to self-destruct, making it a practical choice for NATO operations that must balance mobility, deterrence, and humanitarian considerations. Analysts and programme officials also note that while countermeasures such as explosive reactive armor and active protection systems may reduce effectiveness, tactical solutions such as salvoing, tandem warhead use, and integration with bottom-attack systems like the XM343 Volcano can restore the operational impact of top-attack devices.

Top-attack munitions such as the XM204 are designed to strike armoured vehicles from above, where protection is usually weakest, and that basic geometry drives most of their military value. (Picture source: US Army)

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.