US Conducts Test of XM123 Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer.

In March 2024, the US military conducted a crucial test of the XM123 Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer (GOBLN) system at the Yuma Proving Ground, located within the Yuma Test Range in Arizona. This test represents an advancement in military breach technology, aiming to more effectively eliminate mines and other obstacles on the battlefield.
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The XM123 GOBLN is a system designed to enhance the US Army's ability to neutralize ground obstacles such as mines and other barriers. (Picture source: US DoD)

The XM123 GOBLN (Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer) is an innovative system designed to enhance the US Army's ability to neutralize ground obstacles such as mines and other barriers on the battlefield. It is a modular payload system for breach missions, aiming to modernize current neutralization techniques through an integrated and technologically advanced approach.

This new equipment utilizes an unmanned aerial system (UAS), the SkyRaider R80D, equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors to detect obstacles remotely, without endangering soldiers. This detection system is capable of processing data in real time to provide precise information about obstacles and classify targets. It integrates external detection data to calculate neutralization solutions and transmit mission data to higher-level army systems.

It also includes an 81mm direct/indirect automatic mortar system, which can be operated remotely and is equipped with its fire control system, using 81mm HE mortars to neutralize detected obstacles.

This system aims to offer improved deployment speed, better protection, and increased survivability on the field, thus enabling the army to maintain a high operational tempo while reducing risks associated with explosive and non-explosive obstacles. The XM123 GOBLN is designed to be a comprehensive and integrated solution that enhances the effectiveness of obstacle-breaching vehicles on modern battlefields.

Efforts to develop and refine this system include technical exchanges with industry to ensure specifications meet current and future operational needs, highlighting the army's ongoing commitment to enhancing its capabilities through technological innovation.

This test at the Yuma Test Range underscores ongoing efforts to improve the reliability and efficiency of vehicles and breach systems used by the military. The US Army continues to invest in research and development to ensure its breach technologies meet operational requirements and the complexities of modern battlefields.

The strategic importance of the Yuma Test Range, recognized for its extensive testing facilities and as a crucial site for advancing military technology, played a vital role in this test. The location offers vast open spaces and sophisticated instrumentation, ideal for conducting such large-scale and complex military tests.

The test of the Ground Obstacle Lane Neutralizer system marks a significant step in modernizing and enhancing the operational capabilities of the US Army, ensuring it remains equipped to face the diverse challenges of contemporary military engagements.

Defense News April 2024