German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall introduced the Squad Support Weapon 40 (SSW40) grenade launcher, which can be considered as a normal assault rifle.

As hostilities become more electronic, the emphasis may have shifted to the rapid development of other technologies. But companies like Rheinmetall continue to work on improving their weapons, and the SSW40 is a testament to the progress made.

What Rhinmetall has managed to do with the SSW40 is to make the grenade launcher even smaller and easier to use, while inflicting more significant losses on the enemy with smaller guns.

Rhinemetall claims it reduces recoil and uses a self-regulating recoil system to fire all types of 40mm low velocity (LV) ammunition.

The SSW40 is a portable grenade launcher, but with a magazine for reloading grenades; Acts like an assault rifle. The company also claims it’s the “world’s first automatic grenade launcher,” meaning the gun will continue to throw grenades until the store is empty.

The kit includes ammunition that can pierce armor or explode in mid-air, with a range of up to 900 m. The SSW40 also works with medium velocity (MV) ammunition developed by Rheinmetall. In the press release, this includes warheads with the ability to create lighting / fog, sound and flash, door theft, anti-tank and high-explosive parts.

Rheinmetall is confident that these ammunition will be effective even against medium-weight armored vehicles. In the event of an asymmetrical conflict, the arsenal can be quickly changed and used for close combat.

The SSW40 has been designed with the inclusion of additional modules such as laser light modules, fire control sights and infrared programmers for air munitions.