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America’s New Precision Grenade Launcher Is Built to Kill Drones—And Ukraine May Need It Next
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American defense giants Colt and Northrop Grumman have unveiled a new prototype grenade launcher under the US Army’s Precision Grenadier System (PGS) program—an initiative designed to revolutionize infantry firepower and directly address emerging battlefield threats like drones, Ukrainian media outlet Armyinform reported on August 18.
The weapon, showcased during live-fire demonstrations and defense expos, represents a leap beyond the aging M203 and M320 systems.
The Mars Inc. precision grenadier system. They're working with Barrett on the manufacturing side & 2 undisclosed companies on the fire control system & the 30mm programmable ammo. Uses a long recoil mechanism & has a pneumatic buffer system. Other contender is FN.#Shotshow2025 pic.twitter.com/WX31qnc0hk
— Matthew Moss | The Armourer's Bench (@historicfirearm) January 24, 2025
It is a shoulder-fired, semi-automatic 25mm launcher weighing under 15 pounds, with a five-round magazine and advanced optics like the Vortex XM157.
Its defining feature: programmable airburst munitions designed to destroy targets hiding behind cover—or knock drones out of the sky.
Defense media outlet ArmyRecognition notes that the system’s development carries lessons for US allies fighting drone-heavy wars—Ukraine in particular. With Russian forces increasingly deploying both small reconnaissance drones and suicide UAVs, a compact, portable weapon that can neutralize them could be a game-changer for frontline infantry.
Unlike its failed predecessor, the XM25 “Punisher,” which was canceled in 2018 over weight, cost, and reliability issues, the Colt–Northrop launcher is engineered with more realistic requirements: a total weight under 14.5 pounds, an effective range of 500–1000 meters, and cost-efficient ammunition.
Northrop Grumman shared footage of a prototype 25mm precision grenade launcher, developed with Colt, being fired. The weapon is part of efforts to meet U.S. Army needs for a Precision Grenadier System capable of engaging covered targets and countering drone threats. pic.twitter.com/ZJIf14g29q
— NTC Report (@NTC_Report) May 16, 2025
Northrop Grumman has already developed a suite of 25mm programmable rounds, including High-Explosive Air Burst (HEAB), Proximity (PROX), and Close Quarters Battle (CQB) variants, giving squads options to engage everything from dug-in infantry to small drones.
Another defense media, The War Zone, stated that compared to rivals such as the South African Neopup PAW-20 or Chinese QTS-11, the US system’s combination of precision, modular optics, and anti-drone munitions sets it apart.
It is still in the prototype stage, with competing designs from Barrett and FN America also under Army review, but its presence at events like Modern Day Marine 2024 shows how seriously the Pentagon is pursuing this capability.
For US forces, the launcher is intended to restore the balance of infantry firepower in environments where line-of-sight is limited and drone swarms are eroding traditional battlefield dominance.
For Ukraine, still locked in a grinding war against Russia’s hybrid tactics, the system demonstrates how Western militaries are rethinking small-unit firepower—and offers a glimpse of the weapons Kyiv may one day seek to counter Russia’s drones.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Brave1 defense cluster introduced specialized anti-drone ammunition for standard infantry rifles. The rounds, which resemble regular 5.45 mm cartridges, are designed to fragment mid-air, increasing the chances of hitting fast-moving FPV drones. Already codified for use, the ammo is being distributed to frontline soldiers as part of a broader layered defense strategy.
-7e6c6cc5c10b919bdab603aff07e2c73.png "“Touchstone of the Ukrainian Art Scene”: Nikita Kadan Makes ArtReview’s Power 100 List")
