current u.s. weapons

8/2/2019 Current U.S. Weapons

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Current U.S. infantry weapons

Beretta M9

The Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 919mm Parabellum pistol of the United States

military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS.

The M9 won a competition in the 1980s to replace the M1911A1 as the primary handgun of the U.S. military,

beating out many other contenders, and only narrowly defeating the SIG P226 for cost reasons. It officially entered

service in 1990. Some other models have been adopted to a lesser extent, namely the M11 pistol, and other

models remain in use in certain niches.

The M9 was scheduled to be replaced under a United States Army program, the Future Handgun System (FHS),

which was merged with the SOF Combat Pistol program to create the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP). In early 2006, the

JCP was renamed Combat Pistol (CP), and the number of pistols to be bought was drastically cut back. The jointU.S. Army/Air Force Modular Handgun System could select a commercial off-the-shelf handgun to replace the M9

pistol in Fiscal Year 201112 if budget funds allows the implementation of the study.

SIG Sauer P226

The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 919mm Parabellum, .40

S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG P220, but developed to usehigher capacity, staggered-column magazines in place of the single-column magazines of the P220. The P226 itself

has spawned further sub-variants; the P228 and P229 are both compact versions of the staggered-column P226

design. The SIG Sauer P226 and its variants are in service with numerous law enforcement and military

organizations worldwide.


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MEU(SOC)

The MEU(SOC) pistol, officially designated the M-45 MEUSOC, is a magazine-fed, recoil-operated, single-action,

semiautomatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. It is based on the original M1911 design by John

Browning, and has been the standard-issue side arm for the Force Recon Element of the United States Marine

Corps' Marine Expeditionary Units since 1985. Its National Stock Number is 1005-01-370-7353.

Heckler & Koch MK23

The Heckler & Koch MK23 is a handgun consisting of a match grade semi-automatic pistol, a laser aiming module

(LAM), and suppressor. It was adopted by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for special

operations units in the 1990s.

While the designation applies to the complete system, it's also commonly used in reference to the pistol

component itself. The pistol itself, chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, was developed by Heckler & Koch, and

was selected over the Colt OHWS through USSOCOM's Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) program. The

LAM and suppressor were developed by Insight Technology and Knight's Armament Company (KAC), respectively.


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Heckler & Koch HK45

The HK45 was designed to meet requirements set forth in the U.S. Military Joint Combat Pistol program which had

the purpose of arming the U.S. Military with a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol instead of the 9mm M9 pistol. The

Joint Combat Pistol program was suspended indefinitely in 2006, and the M9 pistol remains the standard issue

handgun for the U.S. Military. Even though the Joint Combat Pistol program had ended, HK decided to make the

HK45 available on the commercial market as well as to law enforcement and military groups. Heckler & Koch, along

with Larry Vickers, an ex-Delta Force operator, and Ken Hackathorn led the development of the HK45 to meet Joint

Combat Pistol program requirements which was canceled due to the price of re-arming the entire military.

The HK45 represents an evolutionary advancement of the Heckler & Koch USP,[3] and shares the same operating

principles of that weapon. It is available in the same ten variants as the USP. The HK45 is a full size model pistol,

but significant effort went towards making it more ergonomic than the HK USP full-size chambered in .45 ACP by

incorporating features found on the Heckler & Koch P2000. These include an extended ambidextrous slide release,

a textured ergonomic grip with finger grooves, and interchangeable backstraps to fit differently sized hands. The

newer grip and backstraps allow the pistol to sit lower into the web of the hand, contributing to greater control of

the weapon and recoil management. In order to accommodate the smaller, more ergonomic grip, the HK45 has a

magazine capacity of 10 rounds versus 12 rounds for the USP45. The HK45 also added grip serrations on the front

end of the slide, a Picatinny rail in front of the trigger guard for mounting accessories, and an O-ring polygonal

barrel similar to the USP Expert and Match models and the Mark 23 for more consistent lock-up of the slide and

barrel during cycling and increased accuracy.

The HK45 is also the first weapon to be manufactured at Heckler & Koch's new facility in Newington, New

Hampshire.


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M16The M16 (officially Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle

adapted for semi-automatic, three-round burst and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from

ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the

5.5645mm NATO cartridge. The rifle entered United States Army service and was deployed for jungle warfare

operations in South Vietnam in 1963, becoming the U.S. military's standard service rifle of the Vietnam War by

1969, replacing the M14 rifle in that role. The U.S. Army retained the M14 in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea

until 1970. Since the Vietnam War, the M16 rifle family has been the primary service rifle of the U.S. armed forces.

The M16 has also been widely adopted by other militaries around the world. Total worldwide production of M16-

style weapons since the design's inception has been approximately 8 million, making it the most-produced firearmof its caliber. As of 2010, the M16 is being phased out in the United States Army, and is being replaced by the M4

carbine, which is itself a shortened derivative of the M16A2. In US Army service, the M16 could be supplemented

by the Individual Carbine beginning in 2014 if procurement of a new weapon is attained, if funds allow. All other

US services would stay with current M16s and M4 series weapons.


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Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle

The United States Navy Mark 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) is an American selective fire military rifle chambered

for the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. It is a variant of the M14 battle rifle and was originally built for use with units

of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs. The EBRs are made

with the intention of carrying out both designated marksman and CQB roles in combat. Since 2010, the U.S. Army

has made available two M14EBR-RI rifles per infantry squad for units deploying to Afghanistan. The M14EBR-RI has

a standard weight 22.0" barrel and lugged GI flash hider; it is not to be confused with the MK14 Mod 0 or Mod 1.

FN SCAR

The Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Assault Rifle, or SCAR, is a modular rifle made by FN Herstal (FNH) for

the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This

family of rifles consist of two main types. The SCAR-L, for light, is chambered in the 5.5645mm NATO cartridge

and the SCAR-H, for heavy, fires 7.6251mm NATO. Both are available in Long Barrel and Close Quarters Combat

variants.

The FN SCAR systems completed low rate initial production testing in June 2007. After some delays, the first rifles

began being issued to operational units in April 2009, and a battalion of the US 75th Ranger Regiment was the f irst

large unit deployed into combat with 600 of the rifles in 2009. The US Special Operations Command has currently

cancelled their purchase of the Mk 16 SCAR-L and are planning to remove the rifle from their inventory by 2013.

However, they plan to purchase 5.56 mm conversion kits for the Mk 17, supplanting the loss of the Mk 16. The Mk

16 is now one of the competing weapons in the Individual Carbine competition which aims to f ind a replacement

for the M4 Carbine.


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M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is the name given to a lightweight, magazine-fed 5.56mm weapon sought

by the United States Marine Corps, which is intended to enhance the automatic rifleman's maneuverability and

displacement speed. The Marine Corps is planning to purchase 4,476 IARs to replace 2,000 M249 light machine

guns currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions.

Approximately 8,000

10,000 M249s will remain in service at the company level to be used at the discretion of

company commanders. The United States Army does not plan to purchase the IAR.

Heckler & Koch HK416

The HK416 is an assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. It uses the same platform as the

American M4 carbine with many changes, most notably a new gas operating system (piston driven) from the

Heckler & Koch G36. Customers have the option of purchasing a new upper receiver, buffer and drive spring to

refurbish M4s or buying a completely new build HK416.


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M4 carbine

The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16 rifle, all based

on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. The M4 is a shorter and lighter variant of

the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.

It is a gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire, shoulder-fired weapon with a telescoping stock. A

shortened variant of the M16A2 rifle, the M4 has a 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel, allowing its user to better operate in

close quarters combat. The M4 has selective fire options including semi-automatic and three-round burst (like the

M16A4), while the M4A1 has the capability to fire fully automatic instead of three-round burst. The carbine is also

capable of mounting an M203 grenade launcher (the M203A1 with a 9-inch barrel as opposed to the standard 12-

inch barrel of the M203 used on the M16 series) as well as its successor the M320 grenade launcher.

The M4 carbine is heavily used by the U.S military. It is slated to eventually replace the M16 rifle for most combat

units in the United States Army. The winner of the Individual Carbine competition might supplement the M4

carbine in U.S. Army service. This is for the US Army only while all other services will continue to use the M4

carbine and M16 rifles.

United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle

The United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR, NSN 1005-01-458-6235; more formally the

United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, DMR) is a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm

NATO cartridge. It is a modified version of the M14 rifle formerly built and utilized by the United States Marine

Corps.

The DMR was issued with match-grade M118LR 175-grain Long Range ammunition. The "basic" DMR (i.e., without

secondary sight, magazine, sling, basic issue items, cleaning gear, suppressor and bipod) weighs 11 pounds (5.0 kg)

or less. The DMR design facilitates repairing or replacing of the sight mount, barrel, bolt, and other key assemblies

at the third echelon maintenance level. The USMC Precision Weapons Section at Marine Corps Base Quantico built

all DMRs.

The Marine Corps replaced the DMR with the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle and the Mk 11 Mod 0 on a one-for-

one basis.


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M14 rifle

M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing

7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14

was used for U.S. Army and Marine Corps basic and advanced individual training, and was the standard issue

infantry rifle in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea, until replaced by the M16 rifle in 1970. The M14 remains in

limited front line service with the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and is also

used as a ceremonial weapon. It was the last American "battle rifle" (a term applied to weapons firing full-power

rifle ammunition) issued in quantity to U.S. troops. The M14 also provides the basis for the M21 and M25 sniper

rifles.

M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle

The M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR, NSN 1005-01-553-5196; more formally the Rifle, 7.62 MM, M39

Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR)) is a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO

cartridge. It is a modified and accurized version of the M14 rifle used by the United States Military. It is based on

the current United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rif le (DMR), which it replaced.

The rifle is currently issued with match-grade M118LR 175-grain Long Range ammunition. The "basic" EMR (i.e.,

without telescopic sight, magazine, sling, basic issue items, cleaning gear, suppressor and bipod) weighs 13 pounds

(5.9 kg) or less.

It has a resemblance to the Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.


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Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle

The United States Navy Mark 12 Mod 0/1 Special Purpose Rifle (SPR) is a rifle in service with United States Special

Operations Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom and previously in Operation Iraqi Freedom. SPR initially stood

for Special Purpose Receiver, but that nomenclature has been replaced as the weapon became a stand-alone

weapons system, and not just an add-on upper receiver assembly (part of the proposed SOPMOD upgrades). The

SPR was eventually type classified by the U.S. Navy as the Mk 12. Note that the weapon was developed by a Navy

office (Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division) for SOCOM units, not for use by units that fall under the

conventional US Navy.

M24 Sniper Weapon System

The M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) is the military and police version of the Remington 700 rifle, M24 being the

model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. The M24 is

referred to as a "weapons system" because it consists of not only a rifle, but also a detachable telescopic sight and

other accessories.

The M24 SWS had the "long-action" bolt version of the Remington 700 receiver because it originally was to use the

.30-06 Springfield M72 Match cartridge. Unfortunately it turned out there was an insufficient amount of these

rounds in a single lot of manufacture, so the operational requirement changed to use the dimensionally smaller

7.6251mm NATO M118 Match Grade cartridge.[citation needed]


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The M24 originally came tapped for the Leupold Ultra M3A 1042mm fixed-power scope, which came with a circle-

shaped mil-dot glass-etched reticle. This was later replaced in 1998 by the cheaper Leupold Mk 4 LR/T M3

1040mm first focal plane fixed-power scope with an elongated-shaped mil-dot wire reticle.

The first number is the scope's magnification (10) and the second number in millimeters (40mm) is the diameter of

the objective lens. A fixed power scope has only one magnification (e.g., 10) and a variable power scope can be

adjusted to focus between a range of magnifications (e.g., 39 is adjustable from a minimum power of 3 to a

maximum power of 9). The rifle itself comes with a detachable Harris 6-9" BRM-S swivel bipod unit.

The M24 SWS was to be replaced with the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, a contract awarded to Knight's

Armament Company. However, the Army still continued to acquire M24s from Remington until February 2010 and

the M24 is being upgraded to the A2 and M24E1 standard in many cases, and continues to serve. The Army is likely

to upgrade its 2,500 M24s to XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle standard.

M40 rifle

The M40 is a bolt-action sniper rifle used by the United States Marine Corps. It has had four variantsthe M40,

M40A1, M40A3, and M40A5. The M40 was introduced in 1966. The changeover to the A1 model was completed in

the 1970s, the A3 in the 2000s (decade), and the A5 in 2009.

Each M40 is built from a Remington 700 bolt-action rifle, and is modified by USMC armorers at Marine Corps Base

Quantico, using components from a number of suppliers. New M40A5s are being built, and A1s are upgraded to

A3s and A5s as they rotate into the armory for service and repair. The rifles have had many sub-variations in

telescopic sights, and smaller user modifications. The M40A5 incorporates a detachable magazine and a threaded

barrel to allow for the use of a sound suppressor or other muzzle device.

The original M40 was a military type-classified version of the Remington 700; it was factory-made, and had a one-

piece wooden stock. The M40A1 and A3 switched to fiberglass stocks made by McMillan, with new scopes. The

trigger pull on both models (M40A1/A3) is 35 lb (1.42.3 kg).

Barrett M82


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The M82 is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle developed by the American Barrett Firearms

Manufacturing company. A heavy SASR (Special Application Scoped Rifle), it is used by many units and armies

around the world. It is also called the "Light Fifty" for its .50 caliber BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) chambering. The weapon

is found in two variants, the original M82A1 (and A3) and the bullpup M82A2. The M82A2 is no longer

manufactured, though the XM500 can be seen as its successor.

M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System

The M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (or M110 SASS) is a semi-automatic sniper rifle that is chambered for the

7.62x51mm NATO round, developed by the American firearm manufacturer Knight's Armament Company.

SR-25

The SR-25 (Stoner Rifle-25)[1] is a semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by

Knight's Armament Company.[1] The SR-25 uses a rotating bolt and a direct impingement gas system. It is loosely

based on Stoner's AR-10, rebuilt in its original 7.6251mm NATO caliber. Up to 60% of parts of the SR-25 are

interchangeable with the AR-15 and M16

everything but the upper and lower receivers, the hammer, the barrelassembly and the bolt carrier group.[1] SR-25 barrels were originally manufactured by Remington Arms with its 5R

(5 grooves, rounded) rifling, with twist 1:11.25 (1 complete turn in 11.25 inches / 286 millimetres). The heavy 20 in

(510 mm) barrel is free-floating, so handguards are attached to the front of the receiver and do not touch the

barrel. First military purchase was spearheaded by the US Navy in the early 1990s; the first operational

deployment and use of the SR-25 sniper rifle was with US Navy SEAL snipers supporting operations in Somalia

1993.

McMillan Tac-50

The McMillan Tac-50 sniper rifle is produced in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States by the McMillan Brothers

Rifle Company. This long-range anti-materiel/anti-personnel weapon is based on previous designs from the same

company, which first appeared during the late 1980s. McMillan makes several versions of .50 caliber rifles, based

on the same proprietary action, for military, law enforcement and civilian use.


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The Tac-50 is a military and law enforcement weapon, which, designated as the C15, is the standard Long Range

Sniper Weapon (LRSW) of the Canadian Forces since 2000. Rifles of the Tac-50 family are capable of outstanding

accuracy and guaranteed to provide 0.5 MOA groups with match grade ammunition.

XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

The XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR), formerly known as the M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System, is a

sniper rifle developed by PEO Soldier for the U.S. Army. It is derived from the M24 Sniper Weapon System and is

intended to replace existing M24s. After winning a competitive bidding process, Remington was awarded the

production contract. Up to 3,600 weapons will be procured. The Army expects to begin fielding 250 upgraded

weapons to deployed U.S. Army Snipers by the end of December 2010.[3][4] Later project manager for Soldier

weapons Colonel Douglas Tamilio said the XM2010 expected fielding will happen in January 2011.

The major configuration change for the XM2010 system is the conversion from 7.62x51mm NATO to more

powerful .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition to provide approximately 50% additional effective range. This

rechambering to dimensionally larger cartridges is possible since the M24 was designed to use the "long-action"

version of the Remington 700 receiver. The US Army hopes that the additional effective range helps their snipers in

engagements in mountainous and desert terrain in which the War in Afghanistan is fought. The general penalties

for using bigger more powerful magnum rifle ammunition compared to smaller non-magnum standard rifle

cartridges to obtain extra effective range are increases in recoil, jump, flash and barrel wear.

M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System

The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) is a developmental under-barrel shotgun attachment for the

M16/M4 family of United States military firearms. It can also be fitted with a pistol grip and collapsible buttstock to

act as a stand-alone weapon.


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Mossberg 500

Mossberg 500 is a series of shotguns manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons. The 500 series comprises widely

varying models of hammerless, pump action repeaters, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but

differ in bore size, barrel length, choke options, magazine capacity, and "furniture" (stock and forearm) materials.

Model numbers included in the 500 series are the 500 , 505 , 510 , 535 , and 590.

Remington Model 870

The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It

is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law

enforcement and military organizations worldwide.

Benelli M4

The Benelli M4 Super 90 is an Italian semi-automatic shotgun manufactured by Benelli Armi S.P.A.

Heckler & Koch MP5

The Heckler & Koch MP5 (from German: Maschinenpistole 5, "machine pistol model 5") is a 9mm submachine gun

of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer

Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) of Oberndorf am Neckar.

The MP5 is currently one of the most widely used submachine guns in the world, having been adopted by

numerous military, law enforcement, intelligence and security organizations. In the 1990s, Heckler & Koch

developed the Heckler & Koch UMP, the MP5's successor, though both remain in production.


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M2 Browning

The M2 Machine Gun, Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun, is a heavy machine gun designed towards the end of

World War I by John Browning. It is very similar in design to Browning's earlier M1919 Browning machine gun,

which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge. The M2 uses the larger and more powerful .50 BMG cartridge,

which was named for the gun itself (BMG standing for Browning Machine Gun). The M2 has been referred to as

"Ma Deuce", or "the fifty" in reference to its caliber. The design has had many specific designations; the official

designation for the current infantry type is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible. It is effective against

infantry, unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats, light fortifications and low-flying aircraft.

The Browning .50 caliber machine gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament by

the United States from the 1920s to the present. It was heavily used during World War II, the Korean War, the

Vietnam War, and during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s (decade). It is the primary heavy machine

gun of NATO countries, and has been used by many other countries. The M2 has been in use longer than any other

small arm in U.S. inventory except the .45 ACP M1911 pistol, also designed by John Browning.

The M2HB is manufactured in the United States by General Dynamics[6] and U.S. Ordnance for use by the United

States government, and for US Foreign Allies via FMS sales. FN Herstal has manufactured the M2 machine gun

since the 1930s. U.S. Ordnance developed their M2 Quick Change Barrel system after years of manufacturing

machine guns for the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. allies.

M60 machine gun

The M60 (formally named United States Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M60) is a family of American general-

purpose machine guns firing 7.6251mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links. There are several

types of live ammunition approved for use in the M60, including ball, tracer, and armor-piercing rounds.

Introduced in 1957, it has served with every branch of the U.S. military and still serves with other armed forces. Its

manufacture and continued upgrade for military and commercial purchase continues into the 21st century, though

it has been replaced or supplemented in most roles by other designs, notably the M240 in U.S. service.


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M249 light machine gun

The M249 light machine gun (LMG), previously designated the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), and

formally written as Light Machine Gun, 5.56 mm, M249, is an American version of the Belgian FN Minimi, a light

machine gun manufactured by the Belgian company FN Herstal (FN). The M249 is manufactured in the United

States and is widely used by the U.S. Armed Forces. The weapon was introduced in 1984 after being judged the

most effective of a number of candidate weapons to address the lack of automatic firepower in small units. The

gun provides infantry squads with the heavy volume of fire of a machine gun combined with accuracy and

portability approaching that of a rifle.

The M249 is gas operated and air-cooled. It has a quick-change barrel, allowing the gunner to rapidly replace an

overheated or jammed barrel. A folding bipod is attached near the front of the gun, though an M192 LGM tripod is

also available. It can be fed from both linked ammunition and STANAG magazines, like those used in the M16 and

M4. This allows the SAW gunner to use rifleman's magazines as an emergency source of ammunition in the event

that he runs out of linked rounds. However, this will often cause malfunctions where the magazine spring has

difficulty feeding rounds quickly enough to match the SAW's high cyclic rate.

M249s have seen action in every major conflict involving the United States since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

Soldiers are generally satisfied with the weapon's performance, though there have been reports of clogging with

dirt and sand. Due to the weight and age of the weapon, the United States Marine Corps is testing the M27

Infantry Automatic Rifle with plans to partially replace the M249 in Marine Corps service.

Mk 48 machine gun

The Mk 48 is a lightweight belt-fed machine gun, firing 7.6251mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of

ammunition.


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It is manufactured by Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing, Inc., a division of FN Herstal based in the United States.

The Mk 48 has been developed in conjunction with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which has

adopted the weapon and started its fielding process, beginning with special operations units.

Heckler & Koch HK21

The HK21 is a German 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun, developed in 1961 by small arms manufacturer

Heckler & Koch and based on the G3 battle rifle. The weapon is in use with the armed forces of several Asian,

African and Latin American countries. It was also license-manufactured by Fbrica do Brao de Prata in Portugal as

the m/968 and in Mexico by SEDENA as the MG21. In the German military (Bundeswehr) and the federal police

(Bundespolizei) it is designated "G8".

M203 grenade launcher

The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the

older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low.

Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was originally designed for the U.S. M16 and

its variant, the M4 Carbine. The launcher can also be mounted onto a C7, a Canadian version of the M16 rifle which

requires the bottom handguard on the rifle to be removed in order to mount the launcher.

Stand-alone variants of the M203 exist, as do versions designed specifically for many other rifles. The device

attaches under the barrel, the launcher trigger being in the rear of the launcher, just forward of the rifle magazine.

The rifle magazine functions as a hand grip when firing the M203. A separate sighting system is added to rifles

fitted with the M203, as the rifle's standard sights are not matched to the launcher. The version fitted to the

Canadian C7 has a sight attached to the side of the launcher, either on the left or right depending on the user's

needs.


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Milkor MGL

The MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) is a lightweight 40 mm semi-automatic, 6-shot grenade launcher developed

and manufactured in South Africa by Milkor (Pty) Ltd. The MGL was demonstrated as a concept to the South

African Defence Force (SADF) in 1981. The operating principle was immediately accepted and subjected to a

stringent qualification program. The MGL was then officially accepted into service with the SADF as the Y2. After itsintroduction in 1983, the MGL was gradually adopted by the armed forces and law enforcement organizations of

over 30 countries; it has since been used in harsh environments ranging from rain forests to deserts. Total

production since 1983 has been more than 50,000 units.

The MGL is a multiple-shot weapon, intended to significantly increase a small squad's fi repower when compared to

traditional single-shot grenade launchers like the M203. The MGL is designed to be simple, rugged, and reliable. It

uses the well-proven revolver principle to achieve a high rate of accurate fire which can be rapidly brought to bear

on a target. A variety of rounds such as HE, HEAT, anti-riot baton, irritant, and pyrotechnic can be loaded and fired

as fast as the trigger can be pulled; the cylinder can be loaded or unloaded rapidly to maintain a high rate of fire.

Although intended primarily for offensive and defensive use with high-explosive rounds, with appropriate

ammunition the launcher is suitable for anti-riot and other security operations. A newly patented modificationallows the MGL to fire less lethal (very low pressure) rounds.



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M320 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM) is the U.S. military's designation for a new single-shot 40 mm grenade

launcher system to replace the M203 for the US Army, while other services use the older M203. The M320 uses

the same High-Low Propulsion System as the M203.

The US Army at Picatinny Arsenal conducted a competitive bidding process for a new 40 mm grenade launching

system, Heckler & Koch was awarded a contract to provide the XM320 beginning in 2006. The M320 was

developed from but is not identical to the Heckler & Koch AG36 (a key distinguishing feature being the addition of

a folding foregrip ahead of the trigger for use when the weapon is in stand-alone configuration, a feature the AG36

lacks). The M320 entered production in November 2008.

The unit was officially fielded in July 2009 at Fort Bragg by the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.


The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot, shoulder-fired, break-action grenade launcher that fires a 40x46mm

grenade which uses what the US Army calls the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low, and first

appeared during the Vietnam War. Because of its distinctive report, it has earned the nicknames of "Thumper",

"Thump-Gun", "Bloop Tube", and "Blooper" among American soldiers; Australian units referred to it as the

"Wombat Gun". The M79 can fire a wide variety of 40 mm rounds, including explosive, anti-personnel, smoke,

buckshot, flechette, and illumination. While largely replaced by the M203, the M79 has remained in service in

many units worldwide in niche roles.

Mk 19 grenade launcher

The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher that entered U.S. military service

during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.


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Mk 47 Striker

The Mk 47 Mod 0 or Striker 40 is a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher with an integrated fire control system,

capable of launching smart programmable 40 mm shells in addition to various unguided rounds.

XM25 CDTE

The XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) System, also known as the Punisher and Individual

Semiautomatic Air Burst System is an air burst grenade launcher derived from the XM29 OICW. It was fielded to

soldiers serving in the War in Afghanistan and is projected to enter full-rate procurement in 2011.


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Soltam K6

The Soltam K6 is a 120 mm mortar that was developed by Soltam Systems of Israel. It is the long-range version of

the Soltam K5 and has replaced older systems such as the 107-millimetre (4.2 in) M30 in several armies including

the United States Army. It is much lighter than the M30, has a greater range, and can sustain a rate of fire of four

rounds per minute while the M30 could sustain only three.

The MN-9 is a Slovenian licence version of the K6. D.I.O. from Iran produces the Hadid HM16 which appears to be a

copy of the K6.

M224 mortar

The M224 60 mm Lightweight Mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-

in support of ground troops.


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M72 LAW

The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW as well as LAWS

Light Anti-Armor Weapons System) is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon, designed in the

United States by Paul V. Choate, Charles B. Weeks, and Frank A. Spinale et al. while with the Hesse-Eastern Division

of Norris Thermadore, currently produced by Nammo Raufoss AS in Norway.

In early 1963 the LAW was adopted by the United States Army and the United States Marines as their primary

individual infantry anti-tank weapon, replacing the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M20A1 "Super Bazooka" in the

US Army.

It had been intended that in the early 1980s that the M72 would be replaced by the FGR-17 Viper, but this

program was canceled by Congress and the M136 AT4 was introduced in its place. In that time period its nearest

comparison was the Swedish Pskott m/68 (Miniman) and the French SARPAC.

Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon

The Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) is a shoulder-launched rocket weapon, based on

the Israeli B-300, with the primary function of being a portable assault weapon (e.g. bunker buster) and a

secondary anti-armor rocket launcher. It was introduced to the United States armed forces in 1984. It has amaximum range of 500 metres (550 yd) against a tank-sized target.

It can be used to destroy bunkers and other fortifications during assault operations as well as other designated

targets with the dual mode rocket and to destroy main battle tanks with the HEAA rocket. Recent operations in

Afghanistan and Iraq have seen a thermobaric rocket added (described as NE"Novel Explosive"), which is capable

of collapsing a building.


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FGM-148 Javelin

The FGM-148 Javelin is a United States-made man-portable third generation anti-tank missile fielded to replace

the Dragon antitank missile.

FIM-92 Stinger

The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM), which can be adapted to

fire from ground vehicles and helicopters (as an AAM), developed in the United States and entered into service in

1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S. and by 29 other countries, the basic Stinger missile has to-date been

responsible for 270 confirmed aircraft kills. It is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems and under license by

EADS in Germany, with 70,000 missiles produced. It is classified as a Man-Portable Air-Defense System

(MANPADS).


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current u.s. weapons

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