GL09 Advanced Airburst Weapon

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File:Advanced airburst weapon 2.png
Top: AAW with 4-rounds box magazine
Bottom: with 24-rounds drum
Place of origin Arthurista
Service history
In service2009 - present
Used byArthuristan People's Defence Forces
Imperial Army (Belhavia)
Production history
Designed2003
ManufacturerArthuristan Dynamics
Produced2012-present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Weight6.5kg (empty)
Length750mm(standard)

Cartridge25x40mm grenades, buckshot, flechette
Effective firing range600
Maximum firing range1,000m
Feed system4, 6 and 8 rounds box magazine, 16 and 24 rounds drum magazine
SightsSmart sight + laser range finder

The Advanced Airburst Weapon, "AAW" for short, was developed by Arthuristan Dynamics as a section-level fire support system, firing 25mm grenades with significantly more range than their 40mm counterparts, replacing the Milkor MGL and various under-barrel grenade launchers, allowing for greater mobility than legacy tripod-mounted automatic grenade launchers.

The AAW can fire four types of ammunition. The basic HE-DP grenade explodes on impact and has a shaped charge warhead to deal with light armoured vehicles. The smart grenade can be made to airburst when the programmed range is reached, showering the area with fragments. The system relies on the laser rangefinder, which sends the data gathered to be displayed on the 1-4x magnification holographic sight, allowing the operator to adjust the point of aim. Alternatively, one can program the smart-grenade to trigger 3-5 seconds after impact with a hard object, allowing the operator to skip the grenade around corners or through windows. The thermobaric variant is effective at neutralising targets in confined spaces. Finally, for self-defence at close quarters, the AAW can also fire buckshot or scatter-flechette rounds, although doing so increases barrel-wear and its use is not recommended in normal practice. The AAW's muzzle brake and AK-107 style countermass system significantly reduce felt recoil, allowing for accurate rapid shooting where high volume sustained fire is necessary.

The Ministry of Defence's current goal is to equip each eight-men rifle section with at least one AAW. In the hands of Arthuristan paratroopers it has proven its utility in the 2015 Niyerian War.