A couple of years ago, KitUp! wrote about Israel Military Industries' Multi-Purpose Rifle System -- a smart optic system that gives M203-style 40mm grenade launchers airbursting capability. Now IMI has upgraded its MPRS so it will work with multi-shot grenade launchers such as the MilKOR USA's M32 used by the Marine Corps.
In 2011, Marine Corps officials said they wanted to give its grenadiers the ability to launch 40mm rounds programmed to explode overtop of bad guys behind cover. The Army is putting its money on the XM25, the so-called “Punisher” that peppers enemy with air-bursting 25mm projectiles. But Marine weapons officials aren’t convinced that the XM25 has enough punch to be lethal.
IMI officials are hoping that making the MPRS compatible with platforms such as the M32 will make the system more attractive to the Corps and special operations forces.
The basic system features a computer, laser rangefinder and optic that can be mounted on any rifle with Picatinny rails. Using a touchpad that attaches to a grenade launcher with Velcro, a grenadier can program a special 40mm grenade to accurately explode over a target at ranges beyond 250 meters, IMI officials say.
The MPRS optic/computer is fairly boxy-looking, but the entire system only weighs less than a pound, IMI officials say. That’s about 13 pounds lighter than an XM25.
