The US Army is planning to procure 1,111 units of the M3E1 multi-role anti-armour anti-personnel weapon system (MAAWS).

The M3E1, which is the latest version of M3 MAAWS, is lighter and shorter with a longer handle and an enhanced grip.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Said to be a part of the Product Manager Crew Served Weapons portfolio, the M3E1 is compatible with several ammunition types.

US Army Foreign Comparative Testing project manager Randy Everett said: "The current system that the army uses is the AT4, which only allows soldiers to fire one shot, and then they have to throw the system away. With the M3E1, soldiers can use different types of ammunition which gives them an increased capability on the battlefield.”

The M3E1 has extra shoulder padding and an improved sighting system that can be adjusted for better comfort without compromising performance.

"With the M3E1, soldiers can use different types of ammunition which gives them an increased capability on the battlefield."

A wiring harness has also been added in the M3E1 configuration that provides a foregrip controller and programmable fuse setter for an interchangeable fire control system.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The service life of each weapon can be tracked by soldiers and logisticians using an automatic round counter.

The M3E1 system underwent testing to ensure gun tube safe service life at IMT Materialteknik in Sundsvall, Sweden.

Testing was carried out by the US Army Test & Evaluation Command and other subject matter experts.

The M3E1 uses the same family of ammunition as the M3, which has already been successfully tested.


Image: A key benefit of the M3E1 is that it can fire multiple types of rounds, giving soldiers increased capability in battle. Photo: courtesy of US Army.

Army Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Army Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact across the defence sector.

Excellence in Action
SignalGeneriX has won the Autonomous Technology Innovation Award for its LOTUS AI Mission Computer -a compact, rugged edge AI platform delivering up to 100 TOPS for ISR, EW, robotics and autonomous systems. Discover how LOTUS is redefining real-time decision-making and autonomy across demanding defence missions.

Discover the Impact