Barrett and MARS Win U.S. Army Precision Grenade Launcher Competition

Barrett and MARS have jointly won the U.S. Army’s xTech Soldier Lethality competition with a prototype of a 30mm precision grenade launcher, Barrett said in a press release.

The Army announced that the MARS Inc. and Barrett team had developed the winning entry in the xTech Soldier Lethality competition.

In just six months, the team designed, built, tested, and demonstrated a new 30mm grenade launcher under the Precision Grenadier System (PGS) program.

The PGS is a shoulder-fired, semi-automatic, magazine-fed weapon system consisting of the launcher, ammunition, and a fire control system.

The system is intended to deliver fast, accurate fire against personnel and low-flying drones at close range.

Barrett said it worked closely with MARS to bring the prototype to completion.

AMTEC Corp contributed by developing an entirely new line of 30mm ammunition, while Precision Targeting designed a fire control system tailored to AMTEC’s rounds.

The new ammunition line will include:

• airburst grenades with programmable fuzes,
• grenades with proximity fuzes,
• grenades with contact fuzes,
• rounds for close-quarters combat.

Specifications of the final system have not been disclosed, but the prototype is based on the Squad Support Rifle System (SSRS), which fires 30×42mm grenades, uses a five-round magazine, and weighs 6.35 kg with optics. Its effective range is up to 500 meters.

The SSRS was first introduced in October 2024. The companies describe it as a “support rifle” capable of engaging infantry, light vehicles, and drones.

“We are excited to be working with Barrett, the world’s premier soldier weapons manufacturer, to mature our 30mm Support Rifle System for the U.S. Army’s PGS Program,” Michael Merino, President of MARS Inc., shared.

The new weapon is intended for the Army’s upcoming PGS procurement, expected in fiscal year 2026.