In case you are wondering… no, I am not obsessed with grenade launchers. But damn, the developments in recent years—ranging from grenade launcher sniper hybrids to full-on squad support firepower—are hard to ignore. And now Rheinmetall has joined the party with the SSW40, a beast of a weapon that looks like it was designed after someone asked, “What if your rifle could really ruin someone’s day?”
First shown off at DSEI 2023, the SSW40 claims the title of the world’s first magazine-fed, shoulder-fired, automatic 40 mm grenade launcher. It’s essentially a compact artillery piece you can carry like an assault rifle—and that’s no exaggeration. Designed to fire both standard 40 mm Low Velocity (LV) and the newer Medium Velocity (MV) grenades, the SSW40 can hit targets up to 900 meters (around 2,950 feet) away with MV rounds. That’s borderline sniper territory, except with explosions.
This launcher isn’t just about raw firepower either. It features a recoil reduction system that helps save your shoulder from spontaneous detachment and plays nice with accessories like laser modules and fire control systems. Whether you’re laying down suppressive fire with high-explosive grenades or “politely suggesting” a crowd disperse with flash rounds, it’s a versatile addition to the squad loadout.
It’s like the arms industry took a look at every action movie ever and said, “Yeah, we can make that real.” No word on pricing yet, but considering what it does, let’s just say it won’t be showing up in your neighborhood airsoft game anytime soon. Just kidding. This is a piece of military hardware, so it is unlikely you will see it at your local range.
Images: Rheinmetall.
Story via YouTube (TFBTV Show Time).
