Some shoulder-fired weapons risk injuring soldiers with the back blast, but a new system offers a safer way to use the weapon.
Nammo's M72 Fire From Enclosure light-assault weapon replaces the rocket-propelled rocket motor that traditionally launches the system. Instead, Nammo uses countermass propulsion technology that eliminates the back-blast danger zone.
"The M72 light assault weapon system has been around for over 50 years," said Chad Parkhill, president of Nammo Talley, the company's US division. "What we did is we challenged our engineers to come up with an improvement to make our system safer and simpler for the warfighter."
The new system also reduces noise levels and night signatures to make it difficult for the enemy to know where the launch is coming from, Parkhill said.
Soldiers can safely fire large-caliber, anti-structure or anti-armor warheads from small buildings, according to Nammo.
Parkhill said qualification is expected to begin on the M72 FFE in mid-2017 and conclude in 2018, in which case Nammo will start production of the system.
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Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.
