The Ministry of Defense authorized almost 20 samples of grenade launchers for operation
2 August, 2024 Fort-600 grenade launcher in service at NGU, October 2023. Photo credits: Special Purpose Battalion "Donbas" Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 20 models of grenade launchers have been codified and authorized for use in the Defense Forces.
The Ministry of Defense clarified that about a third of them are domestically produced. Foreign models are represented by grenade launchers manufactured by defense companies from the United States, Germany, Turkey, Canada, and Sweden. The combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been enhanced by under-barrel, hand-held, automatic and multi-grenade, semi-automatic grenade launchers of various calibers.
A Ukrainian soldier with a Panzerfaust 3 grenade launcher.
Photo credits: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Most of these weapons are of 40 mm caliber. However, there are also more powerful ones with a caliber of 84 mm, such as the universal Swedish Carl Gustaf grenade launcher.
Carl-Gustaf M4 grenade launchers, Kharkiv, 2022 Photo credits: AP/Andrew Marienko
In particular, the Carl Gustaf grenade launcher uses a wide range of ammunition, including: HEAT, high-explosive, thermobaric, smoke and illuminating. It is a versatile and effective infantry weapon against armored vehicles and enemy group targets.
Ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf grenade launcher
Carl Gustaf grenade launchers are normally operated by two soldiers: a shooter and a loader.
The grenade launcher can be fired from a prone position, kneeling or standing upright.
Mk 19 grenade launcher of the Armed Forces. Photo credits: ArmyInform
Ukraine has also developed a tripod for firing the American Mk19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher from indirect fire positions.
Tripod for the Mk19 automatic grenade launcher unfolded.
Photo credits: Facebook/MR Co. Ltd
It makes it possible to use an American grenade launcher similar to the Soviet AGS-17 when the operator and service personnel are not in direct line of sight of the target. This significantly increases the safety of the soldiers.
Two brigades of Territorial Defense Forces received UAG-40.1 automatic grenade launchers as part of the Eye for an Eye 2 project, January 2024.
Photo credits: The Come Back Alive Foundation
In January this year, the Come Back Alive Foundation and the OKKO filling station chain handed over 40 Ukrainian UAG-40.1 automatic grenade launchers to the soldiers of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces.