ARMY AL&T M320 GRENADE LAUNCHER


The M320 is the Army’s newest 40mm low-velocity grenade launcher. It replaces the aging M203. The M320 features a launcher, an integrated day/night sight, and a hand-held laser rangefinder. The new weapon improves upon the M203 series of weapons by demonstrating greater lethality and accuracy, firing equally well in daylight or darkness. The M320 can also fire all U.S. standard 40mm, low-velocity ammunition and has an unrestricted breech design that allows the system to fire longer 40mm low-velocity projectiles. The M320 can also be converted into a stand-alone system, enabling increased modularity and helping units to better configure their weapons based on mission requirements. Finally, by adding a more


familiarization and record fire. This capability also allowed the units to continue to conduct marksmanship training on the EST 2000 after the NET teams departed. To further facili- tate sustainment training, NET teams left the units with CD-ROMs contain- ing operator and maintenance training materials to be used for refresher and follow-on training as needed.


“The ability to conduct familiarization and preventive maintenance inspection on the M320, using the EST 2000, has saved valuable training time for the Army’s mobilization stations,” said SFC George Floyd, Infantry Training Developer, Joint Training and Training Development Center, Fort Dix, NJ. “The Soldier throughput available with the EST 2000 has also shown a significant cost savings to the Army in ammunition consumption.”


By using this groundbreaking approach to fielding and training, the M320 Total Package Fielding teams increased the proficiency of M320 grenadiers as they transitioned from classroom to range to theater, and as they trained in compliance with the ARFORGEN structured progression model. The result of using the EST 2000 system


62 APRIL –JUNE 2011


new capabilities are developed. Finally, simulation can accelerate the marks- manship training process and decrease costs without taking shortcuts.


modern double-action trigger and firing system, the M320 series is safer and more reliable than its predecessor. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of PEO Soldier.)


has been to improve gunner accuracy and lethality initially on the training range and later on the battlefield.


“Since marksmanship is a perishable skill, Soldiers can continue to perform sustainment training through the EST 2000 prior to deployment or even while in theater,” said SSG Darren Shavers, EST 2000 Training Noncommissioned- Officer-in-Charge, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, GA. “This frees up range time for other units in the ARFORGEN cycle while the deploying unit can continue to train in the EST 2000 with all the weapon sys- tems in the infantry squad.”


Syncing Solutions Today’s environment presents signifi- cant challenges to Army acquisition programs. To cope with declining budgets, program managers need to rethink how they conduct business to maintain Soldiers’ readiness. The PEO Soldier and PEO STRI initiative pro- vides a useful model for partnership and simulation training while maximiz- ing the time a Soldier spends on the assigned weapon. Although applying simulation is not new, program offices should capitalize on this resource, which can be refreshed and upgraded as


The M320 initiative marked one of the first fieldings in which new simulator weapons were fielded simultaneously with actual weapons for purposes of NET. Follow-on initiatives include the M26 12-Gauge Modular Accessory Shotgun System, the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition, and the XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun. This synchronized approach could serve as a model for future weapon systems as well, allowing the combat developer to write the simulations requirement along with the weapons requirement so that both systems can be ready for fielding and training simultaneously.


In the end, Soldier effectiveness is enhanced by gear improvements only if the Soldier is trained properly. The faster superior training can be delivered to Soldiers, the sooner they will have a deci- sive advantage, with the capability they need to execute missions and prevail.


MAJ SHAWN R. MURRAY serves as the Army Liaison to the U.S. Navy PEO for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Strike Weapons, Patuxent River, MD. Before his current assignment, he was the Assistant Product Officer for IW, PEO Soldier. Murray holds a B.S.S. in educational military history from Ohio University, an M.B.A. from Columbia Southern University, and an M.A. in his- tory from American Military University.


MAJ THOMAS H. NGUYEN serves as Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for special programs. Before his current assignment, he was the Assistant PM GCTT, PEO STRI. Nguyen holds a B.S. in management and systems engineering from the U.S. Military Academy and an M.A. in organizational leadership from Chapman University.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88