Ukraine launches production of UGL-40 grenade launchers
12 August, 2024 Ukrainian UGL-40 grenade launcher. Photo credits: NMFTE The military has been spotted using UGL-40 single-shot hand-held grenade launchers manufactured by the Ukrainian company Ukrop.
The photo was published by the NMFTE Telegram channel. The UGL-40 is based on the design of the American M203A1 under-barrel grenade launcher for M4 assault rifles and is mounted on a chassis with a stock for autonomous use without main weapons. The grenade launcher is equipped with a shortened to 224 mm barrel with a breech-loading principle of loading.
According to the markings, it uses standard NATO 40x46 mm ammunition.
A Canadian soldier with a C8 assault rifle and an M203A1 underbarrel grenade launcher
This is the first known appearance of the UGL-40 in the public domain. Its development and production were not previously publicized, so detailed specifications remain unknown. The similar M203A1 is capable of precision fire on single targets at a distance of up to 150 meters and up to 350 meters on group targets.
It can use a wide range of Western ammunition in this caliber. These include traditional fragmentation grenades as well as more exotic armor-piercing, high-explosive, stun, gas and buckshot ammunition. The weight of the grenade launcher itself is 1.36 kilograms, but the weight of the chassis and telescopic stock should be taken into account.
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. About a third of them are of Ukrainian production.
In particular, the Ukrainian military is already actively using another single-shot hand-held grenade launcher, the Fort-600, in significant numbers. In April of this year, the Come Back Alive Foundation handed over 884 such grenade launchers to the military for almost UAH 31 million.
The Come Back Alive Foundation transferred 884 Fort-600 grenade launchers to Ukrainian defenders. April 2024.
Photo from the Foundation
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defense codified and authorized a new domestic infantry rocket launcher for use in the Army.