Project
officer with the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, Steven
Gilbert, the Small Arms Grenade Munitions (SAGM) will be twice as lethal as the
current 40mm grenade against targets in defilade.
Gilbert
together with 10 engineers as members of Joint Service Small Arms Program, is striving
to substitute the standard 40mm grenade with an airburst model to be used for
combating against enemies in defilade positions.
“Warfighters
currently lack the ability to achieve desired accuracy and incapacitating
effects against personnel targets in defilade at ranges from 51 to 500 meters,”
Gilbert said.
Gilbert described the new SAGM round is being designed
for use in the M320 and older M203 grenade launcher, and complementary to
the XM25 – the Army’s 25mm Counter Defilade
Target Engagement System.
Gilbert
explained that “SAGM is complimentary to that; we are not competing against it.
The XM25 provides direct fire, SAGM is indirect.”
The
project began in 2011, and the solution it seeks is not expected to be in the
hands of Project Manager Ammunition Systems until July 2015.
With
SAGM’s full autonomous on-board smart sensors, the grenade can execute a task
without being told to do so by the user. Consequently, when fired, it will
recognize its surroundings and can detonate over an obstacle that might conceal
the enemy.
SAGM
will have three firing modes, Gilbert said.
“Airburst
after detecting defilade is the first,” he said. “The default is point
detonation or when it hits the target. Lastly there is a self-destruct feature
which decreases collateral damage and reduces unexploded ordnance left on the
battlefield or training ranges.”
In
addition, SAGM round does not require the user to carry any extra gear or
weapon accessories, advancing the goal of reducing soldier load, Army officials
maintain.
“This
capability will inflict maximum lethality to any enemy personnel seeking cover
behind defilade,” Gilbert added.
