German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall unveiled the game-changing SSW40 grenade launcher at the Eurosatory security and defense trade show in France.
According to a press release from Rheinmetall, the 40mm fire support weapon is the world’s first self-loading, shoulder-fired grenade launcher.
As noted by the company, both the weight, dimensions and handling of the SSW40 are similar to those of an assault rifle.
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“Thanks to its recoil reduction and self-adjusting system, the SSW40 (40th Ranger Support Weapon) can fire all existing low-Velocity (LV) 40mm rounds as well as 40mm Medium Velocity Rheinmetall rounds. (MV) new,” the press release said.
The new MV ammunition has a significantly increased velocity and flat trajectory, allowing faster target hits and increasing the effective range of the system to 900m. Combined with Rheinmetall’s broad-spectrum 40mm LV/MV ammunition portfolio, infantry users gain unprecedented versatility and efficiency on the battlefields of the future.
Because it is equipped with the 40mm MV ammunition, the development of the SSW40 is closely related to the turret-independent secondary weapon system (TSWA, Turmunabhängige Sekundärwaffenanlage in German) for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle. TSWA allows to hit targets in the vicinity of the vehicle with both damaging effects as well as the lethal warhead of the new 40mm MV family. The introduction to the market of this 40mm MV ammunition is decisive for the SSW40, development of which will be completed in 2023.
Through rapid magazine change, the SSW40 can be used in any near-peer as well as asymmetrical conflict situation and provides superior all-terrain firepower, even against heavy armored vehicles. central.
The interfaces on the SSW40 also allow the inclusion of laser light modules, fire control sights as well as an IR programmer for airborne explosive point rounds.
