SSU’s Alpha Unit Strengthened with Exclusive U.S.-Made Mk 47 Stryker Grenade Launchers

The Alpha Group of the Security Service of Ukraine has been equipped with American 40mm Mk 47 Stryker grenade launchers.

The unit’s press service published a photo of the grenade launcher during training exercises.

Grenade launchers of this type are currently quite rare, with the primary users being the armed forces of the United States, Australia, and Israel.

A key advantage of this grenade launcher over the widely used Mk 19 is its significantly lighter weight – just 18 kilograms compared to 35 kilograms for the earlier model.

The available ammunition options are also fully compatible with the Mk 19, except for the specialized MK285 rounds, which feature a programmable fuse.

This fuse is activated at the moment of firing, and the relevant information is recorded thanks to the computerized AN/PWG-1 sight, which measures the distance to the target and transmits it to the grenade’s fuse.

Today, Ukraine equips its forces with both foreign grenade launchers and domestic ones, including the AGL-53. In March 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine approved these grenade launchers for military use.