US Army Getting New Grenade Launchers :)

[WNxLT7]

The U.S. Army is wrapping up testing of its new XM 320 grenade launcher, a weapon designed to be safer than the 68,000 M203 grenade launchers it will replace in the next few years.

Manufactured by Heckler & Koch, the XM 320 is expected to enter full production in September, after design and durability tests in March and April at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and Fort Bragg, N.C, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tim Chima, product manager for individual weapons at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.
"The mounting bracket needed to be rugged-ized so as to better handle the operational environment," Chima said.

The XM320 features a side-loading breech, tougher mounting bracket and built-in night-vision sights.

"The 320 provides a day/night sight capability that we did not have before," Chima said. "You now have a sight with a laser pointer, so at night, if you know the range of your target, you can then orient your weapon on your target. Recently, we strengthened the housing of the day/night sight to protect its internal electronic components."

The breech allows a wider variety of 40mm ammunition, such as non-lethal and illumination rounds, he said.

Each hand-held XM 320 with laser rangefinder costs about $3,500.

The launcher, which can be attached to an M4 or M16 rifle, provides an indirect fire capability for suppression or area fire out to 300 meters.

U.S. Army To Buy Grenade Launcher - Defense News

[Maxfragg]

nice, and much cooler than the M203, would be great to get them for the Army Faction *dreaming*
quality made in germany.
It is basicly a moderniced AG36 as seen on the G36 and the L85A with a different mounting (prototype of the XM320 is also called AG-C)

[[R-MOD]Bob_Marley]

I think "new" is a bit generous for what is essentially an AG36 with a redesigned mount.

Also, does this mount directly onto the barrel like the original M203 or is it (as I would imagine it to be) fitted on a rail system?

[BloodBane611]

Yeah, basically a modified AG-36. My only question is whether muzzle velocity will drop because of the shortened barrel, as I couldn't find the AG36's muzzle velocity anywhere.

[Mouse]

Look good, although looks a bit cumbersome, may get in the way abit, good there getting all the laser jobs though, I heard in the British ACOG update that firteam grenadiers would have laser rangefinder too.

[Brummy]

Sexy

[Maxfragg]

@ Bob: it is mountet on the RIS
@ Mouse: as said in the text

[[R-DEV]Jaymz]

wtf @ extension thing on the barrel


Also, lovely......we make all these 203 variants for PR and now they're going out of phase....

[fludblud]

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Jaymz

wtf @ extension thing on the barrel


Also, lovely......we make all these 203 variants for PR and now they're going out of phase....

lol, good thing the 203s wernt done by 0.7, now you have time to redo it!

[Maxfragg]

and it would save time actually, since the animation for the AG36 on the L85A, the animation for the HK79 for the G3 UGL could be the same and i thought you wanted to replace the Brits L85A UGL anyway with your own, so that they finaly get a possible weapon (for those who do not know: the L85a can not be mountet with UGL and Ironsights at the same time, since the front sight is just at the same place as the mounting of the AG36 is). So you have to moddel a AG36 anyway and tune it to a M320 should not be to hard