Boeing AH-64 Apache Is Getting Proximity-Fuzed 30mm Ammo For Swatting Down Drones

The AH-64 Apache’s evolution into a dedicated counter-drone platform continues — and now it’s getting a major upgrade to its chin gun.

The U.S. Army has successfully live-fire tested the new XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) 30x113mm ammunition for the Apache’s M230 chain gun, adding a critical new tool to its expanding anti-drone arsenal, as The War Zone reported.

The tests took place last December at Yuma Proving Ground, where multiple engagements were conducted against a range of drone targets.

What Makes XM1225 APEX Different?

Unlike traditional high-explosive rounds that detonate on impact, the XM1225 APEX round uses a proximity fuze. That means it detonates when it gets close to a target — spraying fragmentation outward — rather than requiring a direct hit.

That capability is particularly important when engaging small, agile unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The Apache’s M230 isn’t a precision sniper rifle, and drones are notoriously difficult to hit directly. A proximity-fuzed round significantly increases the probability of kill by creating a lethal fragmentation radius around the target.

The Army says the XM1225 meets all accuracy requirements and demonstrated strong effectiveness against both UAS and ground targets. Importantly, it integrates seamlessly into the existing M230 Area Weapon System without requiring hardware or fire control modifications.

Safer and More Practical for Airborne Engagements

One of the biggest challenges of using conventional cannon rounds against drones from the air is safety. Standard high-explosive rounds that miss their target continue traveling until they strike something — potentially miles away. That creates serious risk during horizontal or upward firing profiles.

Proximity-fuzed rounds mitigate that issue by detonating in the air near the target. Even if they don’t score a direct hit, they self-detonate instead of becoming long-range hazards.

This makes the Apache’s gun a far more viable and safer counter-UAS option during aerial engagements.

A More Affordable Anti-Drone Option

Until now, the Apache’s anti-drone toolkit has relied heavily on missiles and guided rockets:

• AGM-114 Hellfire (including Longbow radar-guided variants)
• APKWS II laser-guided rockets

While highly effective, these munitions are expensive — with Hellfires costing well into six figures per shot. APKWS rockets are cheaper, but still significantly more costly than 30mm cannon rounds.

With Apaches capable of carrying up to 1,200 rounds of 30mm ammunition — and rapidly reloading in forward environments — the XM1225 offers a scalable, high-capacity, and cost-effective engagement option against drones.

Ground-Based Overlap

Variants of the M230 cannon, particularly the M230LF (M914 in Army service), are already used in counter-drone roles on platforms like the Stryker M-SHORAD system. However, those ground-based proximity rounds were not previously cleared for Apache use.

The XM1225 APEX bridges that gap with an aviation-certified solution.

Expanding the Apache’s Role

The Israeli Air Force pioneered the Apache’s counter-drone role years ago, but the U.S. Army has now formally embraced and expanded it. The addition of proximity-fuzed 30mm ammunition signals that counter-UAS missions are no longer secondary tasks — they are becoming a core part of the platform’s operational profile.

With layered engagement options — radar-guided missiles, laser-guided rockets, and now proximity-fuzed cannon fire — the Apache is increasingly positioned as a flexible, mobile drone hunter in contested airspace.

DroneXL’s Take

The XM1225 APEX round may not sound revolutionary at first glance — but it represents something bigger.

The battlefield drone threat has forced legacy platforms like the AH-64 to adapt quickly. Instead of relying solely on high-cost missiles to intercept relatively low-cost drones, the Army is now scaling its response with smarter ammunition choices.

This is part of a broader trend we’ve been covering: militaries are rapidly rethinking cost-per-kill ratios in the drone era. Shooting down a quadcopter with a six-figure missile is not sustainable. Proximity-fuzed cannon rounds change that equation dramatically.

The Apache isn’t just an attack helicopter anymore — it’s becoming an aerial counter-UAS node. And as drone saturation on modern battlefields increases, expect to see even more legacy platforms retrofitted with smarter, scalable anti-drone solutions.

The drone arms race isn’t slowing down. It’s just getting more cost-efficient.

Photo credit: DVIDS