Rheinmetall finds first customer for innovative SSW40 grenade launchers

Rheinmetall has found a NATO customer for the innovative 40-mm SSW40 self-loading grenade launcher.

Hartpunkt reported that the company announced this during a specialized media briefing.

Although Rheinmetall refused to disclose details about the first customer of the SSW40, the company noted that the weapon is currently being prepared for qualification tests.

The qualification is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with serial deliveries likely to begin in 2026.

With dimensions and weight similar to a standard small arms weapon, the SSW40 can be used from the shoulder without needing heavy machines or special mounts.

This magazine-fed, shoulder-fired grenade launcher is highly ergonomic and suitable for medium-range combat operations.

The main feature of the SSW40 is its self-adjusting recoil system, which allows the use of both low velocity (LV) and medium velocity (MV) ammunition from Rheinmetall’s new generation.

MV ammunition provides a higher muzzle velocity and flatter trajectory, which increases the range of fire up to 900 meters. This significantly increases the firepower and accuracy of the grenade launcher in combat conditions.

The SSW40 supports a wide range of ammunition, including high-explosive fragmentation (HEFRAG), high-explosive fragmentation (HEDP), and other types of ammunition.

It is also possible to use illumination, smoke, and non-lethal ammunition, which expands the scope of the grenade launcher from traditional warfare to asymmetric conflict scenarios.

The SSW40 is compatible with a variety of modern accessories, including laser sights, fire control systems, and infrared programmers. In particular, integration with the FCS-TacRay Ballistic fire control system, equipped with a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer, allows for implementing an air burst function, which increases the effectiveness of hitting targets in shelters.

By the way, in May, Barrett and MARS jointly won the U.S. Army’s xTech Soldier Lethality competition with a 30-mm precision grenade launcher prototype.