The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter — long synonymous with tank-busting and close air support — is undergoing a significant transformation as modern battlefields reshape priorities. In a development that underscores the rapid evolution of aerial warfare, the U.S. Army has successfully tested a new proximity-fuzed 30mm round designed to enhance the Apache’s ability to counter unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones.
The move formalizes and expands a mission set that has grown steadily in importance over the past decade. While the Israeli Air Force pioneered the use of the Apache as a counter-drone platform years ago, the U.S. Army has now codified the role and is equipping its helicopters with specialized capabilities to perform it more safely, efficiently, and economically.
At the center of this evolution is the 30x113mm XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) cartridge. In December, Apache crews conducted live-fire tests of the new round at the Army’s expansive Yuma Proving Ground in southern Arizona. The trials included multiple engagements against various drone targets, assessing both accuracy and lethality under controlled conditions.
The XM1225 APEX round represents a fundamental shift in how the Apache’s chin-mounted cannon can be used against aerial threats. Unlike traditional impact-fuzed ammunition, which detonates only upon striking a target or grazing it, the APEX cartridge uses a proximity fuze. The round detonates when it comes close to an object, releasing a controlled spray of fragmentation.
That seemingly small difference addresses a significant operational challenge. Drones are often small, agile, and independently maneuvering targets. The Apache’s M230 chain gun, mounted under the nose and slaved to the pilot’s helmet sight, is exceptionally versatile but is not a precision sniper weapon. Even skilled crews can struggle to achieve direct hits against small quadcopters or fast-moving UAS at varying distances.
A proximity-fuzed detonation dramatically increases the lethal radius of each round. Instead of requiring a direct impact, the Apache only needs to place rounds near the drone, where fragmentation can neutralize it.
The Army described the December tests as highly successful. According to an official release, the XM1225 met all accuracy requirements and demonstrated “exceptional effectiveness” against both ground and aerial targets. Importantly, the new round requires no modifications to the Apache’s existing M230 Area Weapon System or its fire control system — a plug-and-play enhancement rather than a costly retrofit.
The M230 chain gun, whose prime contractor is Northrop Grumman, has been a defining feature of the Apache since its introduction. Fed by a magazine capable of holding up to 1,200 rounds, the 30mm weapon fires at a rate of approximately 625 rounds per minute.
One of the XM1225’s key strengths lies in its ballistic similarity to the legacy M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) cartridge. Because the new proximity-fuzed round flies and behaves similarly to the M789 in flight, Apache crews require minimal additional training to employ it effectively. Mixed loads — combining XM1225 and M789 rounds — can be used without altering engagement procedures significantly.
During testing at Yuma, evaluators compared the XM1225 directly with the M789 under identical conditions. Data were also gathered on mixed loads against both ground targets and UAS. The results suggest that Apache crews could tailor ammunition loads to mission requirements, retaining the versatility that has always defined the platform.
The ability to integrate without hardware modifications also speeds fielding timelines. In an era when threats evolve rapidly, minimizing bureaucratic and engineering hurdles is critical.
Counter-drone operations from the air present unique safety concerns. Standard high-explosive or incendiary rounds that miss their targets continue traveling until they impact the ground, potentially miles away. When fired horizontally or upward, such rounds can pose significant risks to friendly forces or civilian populations below.
This ballistic reality complicates air-to-air engagements against small drones, especially in contested or urban environments. Even slight deflections can send dozens of rounds into unpredictable trajectories. Moreover, judging distance and relative motion against small aerial targets can be difficult, increasing the chance of misses.
Proximity-fuzed ammunition mitigates these hazards. By detonating near a target rather than upon impact, the XM1225 reduces the likelihood of unexploded rounds traveling long distances. Many proximity rounds also incorporate self-destruct mechanisms if they fail to detect a target within a specified timeframe, further enhancing safety.
For Apache crews operating in complex airspace — potentially above friendly troops or populated areas — that capability is crucial.
The Apache already possesses air-to-air engagement options. Modified AGM-114 Hellfire missiles can use radar guidance to prosecute aerial targets. Laser-guided variants provide additional flexibility. However, each AGM-114 Hellfire costs well into six figures per unit, making them expensive solutions for small drone threats that may cost only thousands of dollars — or less.
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) offers a lower-cost alternative, converting standard Hydra rockets into precision-guided munitions at a low-to-mid five-digit price point. Air-to-air optimized variants, including proximity-fuzed options, have been developed for counter-UAS missions, though it remains unclear whether all Apache variants are cleared to use these specialized configurations.
Even so, rockets and missiles consume limited hardpoints and add logistical burdens. The gun, by contrast, is integral to the aircraft and carries a deep magazine. An Apache can launch with up to 1,200 rounds and be rapidly reloaded at forward arming and refueling points (FARPs) in austere environments.
In high-tempo operations against swarms of small drones, the economics favor the gun. A 30mm proximity-fuzed round is dramatically cheaper than a missile, and the Apache can carry hundreds more engagement opportunities in a single sortie.
Variants of the M230 have already found a growing role in ground-based counter-drone systems. The lightweight M230LF, designated the M914 in Army service, is mounted on vehicles such as the Sgt. Stout Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system based on the Stryker 8×8 armored vehicle.
The Army has pursued self-destructing and proximity-fuzed 30mm ammunition for these ground systems, reflecting a broader recognition that drones demand new engagement paradigms. However, those rounds had not been cleared for use on the airborne Apache platform.
The XM1225 bridges that gap. Designed specifically for aviation use, it satisfies safety and integration requirements unique to helicopter operations. That distinction matters: aerial platforms face different ballistic, vibration, and environmental stresses compared to ground vehicles.
The Apache’s counter-drone pedigree traces back years. The Israeli Air Force, confronting persistent small UAS threats from non-state actors, adapted its Apaches to engage drones in real-world combat. Those operations demonstrated that attack helicopters could serve as agile, flexible aerial pickets, hunting small threats that might evade traditional air defense systems.
By formalizing the mission, the U.S. Army acknowledges that counter-UAS is no longer an ad hoc task but a core requirement. Conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere have shown that inexpensive drones can threaten armored formations, artillery units, and logistics nodes. Rotary-wing aircraft, with their endurance and sensor suites, are well positioned to intercept these threats.
Modern warfare increasingly features asymmetric cost dynamics. A low-cost quadcopter armed with explosives can threaten multimillion-dollar vehicles. Using a six-figure missile to defeat such a drone creates an unfavorable exchange ratio.
The XM1225 aims to restore balance. By providing a lower-cost, high-volume engagement option, the Army enhances sustainability in prolonged operations. In swarm scenarios, where multiple drones approach simultaneously, the ability to engage rapidly with cannon fire becomes decisive.
The Apache’s helmet-mounted sighting system allows pilots or gunners to cue the M230 simply by looking at a target. Combined with proximity-fuzed ammunition, this creates a responsive, intuitive engagement loop.
The addition of proximity-fuzed 30mm rounds could reshape Apache tactics. Helicopters may be positioned as forward counter-UAS screens, protecting maneuver formations or high-value assets. Their mobility allows rapid repositioning as threats emerge.
Moreover, the dual-use nature of the XM1225 preserves the Apache’s traditional strengths. The fragmentation effect is effective not only against drones but also against exposed personnel, soft-skinned vehicles, and small boats. In littoral environments, this versatility could prove valuable.
Mixed ammunition loads further expand flexibility. Crews could carry a blend of proximity-fuzed and traditional impact-fuzed rounds, selecting the appropriate effect for each target.
Because the XM1225 mirrors the ballistic characteristics of the M789, additional training demands are minimal. This simplifies adoption across Apache units. Crews already proficient with the M230 need only understand the employment considerations unique to proximity detonation.
Extensive safety testing has reportedly ensured reliable performance. Aviation munitions must meet stringent standards, particularly when fired in diverse flight envelopes.
The Apache’s transformation into a counter-drone platform reflects broader trends in air warfare. As unmanned systems proliferate, even legacy platforms must adapt. The AH-64, first fielded in the 1980s, continues to evolve through incremental upgrades rather than wholesale replacement.
If fielded widely, the XM1225 APEX round will add a critical layer to the Apache’s anti-drone “quiver.” It offers a balance of cost, safety, and lethality that complements existing missile and rocket options.
In future conflicts, where drone swarms may saturate traditional defenses, the sight of an Apache sweeping the sky with proximity-fuzed 30mm bursts could become increasingly common. What began as a tank killer has matured into a versatile guardian against one of the most disruptive technologies of modern war.
The battlefield has changed. The Apache, once defined by its ability to destroy armored columns, is now preparing to dominate a new dimension of combat — the contested airspace just above the ground, where small drones lurk and where adaptability determines survival.
