UK Places Final GMG Order

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed its final order for Heckler & Koch's grenade machine gun (GMG) under the Fire Support Weapon programme.

GMGs fire up to 340 40mm diameter high-explosive grenades per minute, to ranges up to 2km in either single shot or automatic modes.

The procurement programme, worth £18m, includes telescopic day sights, image intensifying and thermal night sights and a laser rangefinder.

The UK's Defence Equipment and Support's dismounted close combat project team leader Colonel Peter Rafferty says the GMG boosts troops' firepower and is extremely effective.

"Reports from the front line have been extremely favourable, with the weapon's effectiveness allowing infantry company commanders to engage and defeat the enemy at range, providing overmatch of the enemy and the ability to achieve mission success more rapidly," he says.

By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh