MARCH 10, 2026 – Yuma Test Center at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground recently tested a new 30-mm Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) round primarily developed for firing from the AH-64 Apache helicopter.
Test Officer Walter McCormick who led the test explains that the APEX is designed to integrate with the existing M230 auto gun that’s under the Apache.
The APEX is similar to the currently fielded M788 training round and M789 30-mm high explosive dual-purpose round. “The APEX round was developed to be a frag round that would prox in front of the UAS [unmanned aerial system] and make a frag pattern that would take out a UAS.”
McCormick further explains, “its form and function is similar except it explodes in front of the target instead of hitting the target then exploding.”
The need for updated counter-UAS solutions is urgent. In recent years the UAS has become the weapon of choice on the battlefield as seen in Ukraine and Russia. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll is pushing for the U.S. Army to focus its efforts on UAS and C-UAS technology. In fact, U.S. Army Yuma Test Center has been designated as the primary, dedicated interagency C-sUAS test and training range.
During testing, YTC performed two subtests; the first was to assess and compare it to the legacy M789 rounds, and the second test was to engage a UAS.
Crews fired approximately 1,200 rounds in total between the two variants, both close and long range. “We engaged a couple different UAS and a few different ground targets,” said McCormick.
YPG has nearly 2,000 square miles of restricted airspace and year around sunshine which makes it ideal for aerial testing.
“They have done ground testing at other ranges. The problem is they [other ranges] don’t have the land or airspace to do aerial firing from a helicopter. So that’s a big benefit. Plus, all the unique instrumentation YPG offers,” McCormick explained.
During the APEX test YPG used its full arsenal of support assets to collect data, ranging from air to ground which included chase pilots with the Blackhawks flying overheard for scoring, Kineto Tracking Mounts, telemetry, high-speed video, still photographers and data collectors.
These assets are readily available to industry partners testing at YPG.
“The Blackhawk was used primarily for overhead score, so we can assess where rounds are impacting based on firing point of the aircraft. The other benefit of surrounding ground camera angles was having a 360 view of the situation,” remarked McCormick.
The next step for the APEX is for it to undergo airworthiness release (AWR) based on the YPG test results. AWR will provide safety release for APEX to be fired from Apache helicopters by Soldiers when rounds are available. AWR is a milestone on the road toward Materiel Release and fielding.
Story by Ana Henderson
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground