Futuristic Rifle Fires Explosive 'Smart' Rounds

Enemy snipers hidden behind walls or in buildings often require U.S. warfighters to call down artillery or air strikes — but a new rifle could allow soldiers to shoot smart bullets that explode precisely above or beside a target. 

The XM25 rifle has a laser rangefinder to calculate the distance to a target. Soldiers can add or subtract up to 3 meters (9.8 ft) so that the round only explodes after clearing an obstacle or entering a room where an enemy lies hidden. It's almost like having a precision grenade launcher. 

The U.S. Army hopes to start testing such rifles soon in Iraq and Afghanistan, with possible deployment by 2012. And if the Army also continues expanding its robotic battlefield presence, human soldiers might not be alone in wielding such weapons.