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Anairburst round is a type oftacticalanti-personnel andanti-aircraft explosive ammunition, typically ashell orgrenade, thatdetonates in midair, causingair burst effectfragment damage to enemy personnel or aircraft (notably comparably unsophisticatedunmanned aircraft systems such as modifiedracing drones). In the latter case, airburst rounds are used in anti-aircraft or "zenith" cannon, known in military slang as FLAK (from the German "fliegerabwehrkanone",air defence cannon) or ack-ack (from the British phonetic alphabet, as an initialism for Anti Air).
This makes it easier to hit enemy soldiers behind a wall, in adefensive fighting position, or in a confined space or room. It is used on manyguns, fromartillery to the hand-heldXM25 Individual Airburst Weapon System (derived from theXM29 OICW). Unlike traditional grenades, such as the40 mm grenade, smart grenades can be electronically programmed to explode after travelling a certain distance. Afire control computer or some other electronic sighting system is used to quickly program the electronicfuse with any distance, as conditions dictate.
Orbital ATK developed 30x173mmMk310 PABM-T airburst rounds forMk44 Bushmaster II.[1][2]
It is also called anairburst shell,air burst grenade,programmable ammunition,3P ammunition orsmart grenade.
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