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MK47 Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher [ALGL] Striker 40

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) is the system integrator for the STRIKER40 40mm Advanced Lightweight Grenade Weapon System, the first major advancement in crew-served weapon systems since the end of World War II. The MK47's advancements are made possible by the latest sensing, targeting and computer-programming technology. The MK-47 Automatic Lightweight Grenade Launcher (ALGL) is a lightweight, portable, 40mm grenade machine gun with an advance sight and fire control system that combine to give a gunner a high probability of first round target hits.

Integrating the latest sensing, targeting and computer- programming technology, the MK47 is a reliable, portable 40mm grenade weapon system suited for mobile, tactical combat soldier units. It will provide NATO forces with a decisive technological advantage over enemy forces equipped with older crew-served weapons. The MK47 low-recoil weapon system is one hundred pounds lighter than the MK19 [39.6 Pounds versus 140 pounds]. It features quick detach barrel for ease of transport. It fires all standard NATO 40mm linked grenades, including programmable airburst ammunition. The MK-47 fires from an advanced, lightweight tripod and universal vehicle mount.

It achieves a 90 percent hit rate on the first round. Some of the weapon’s features include a lightweight video-sighting system, laser range finder and electronic elevation mechanism. Produced by Raytheon, the MK47's sophisticated Lightweight Video Sight (LVS) fire control system utilizes the latest in laser rangefinding, I2 night vision and ballistic computer technology to assist soldiers in the detection, recognition and first-round engagement of target threats. he laser range finder that provide a fire solution for day/night operations in all weather.

The company formerly called Saco Defense operated in Saco, Maine, for at least 30 years. Saco Defense is one of the world's leading producers of small and medium caliber machine guns, cannon barrels and complementary equipment. It is the sole producer of the MK-19 40mm automatic grenade launcher for the US armed forces, and by 2000 was in the final stages of development of a next-generation automatic grenade launcher called Striker. Saco Defense products are in the inventories of more than 40 countries; they complement the high-rate-of-fire Gatling-type weapons produced by General Dynamics Armament Systems.

On 21 May 2000 General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) and New Colt Holding Corp. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for General Dynamics to acquire Saco Defense Corp., a subsidiary of New Colt Holding Corp., for an undisclosed amount of cash. Saco Defense, based in Saco, Maine, had 225 employees. Upon completion of the acquisition, Saco Defense became part of General Dynamics Armament Systems, and will be known by that name.

In December 2003 US Special Operations Command announced that it intended to procure on a sole source basis from General Dynamics Armaments and Technical Products (GD-ATP), Burlington, VT., an Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher (ALGL) System, meeting the performance requirements and also meeting the design and performance requirements of proprietary General Dynamics Armament and Technical Systems System Requirement Specification for the Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher Weapon System (GDATP #402305) and associated proprietary specifications for the weapon, fire control and ammunition subsystems. Data shall include: contractor testing and performance data documenting full compliance with all government ORD threshold requirements; logistics support and safety data and documentation; system and interface control documentation; Product Baseline Technical Documentation Package for government use; and commercial warranty and full contractor support package.

The ALGL System must be operable with the current US inventory of NATO standard 40MMx53SR high velocity grenade cartridges (e.g. M430/M430A1, M383, M918, M385A1). The ALGL System must meet all threshold and key performance parameters of the government ORD including: dismounted man-packed System weight of 100 pounds or less; maximum effective range for point targets 1500 meters, for area targets 2000 meters; probability of hitting 80% of targets within 300 to 1000 meters within two minutes with 32 rounds of standard ammunition; fully operable within three minutes when dismounted from vehicle to ground mount; provide range and a ballistic solution within the field of view for standard and PPHE ammunition; target magnification three power or greater; and meet all performance requirements with standard and PPHE ammunition types. The ALGL System must be both operationally suitable and operationally effective for applications in worldwide combat environments. This contract action includes ALGL System production deliverables, data, spare parts, System integration and contractor maintenance support for ALGL Systems and subsystems. A five-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract type was planned with a minimum of 200 ALGL Systems and a maximum of 1000.

The MK47 is replacing the MK19 at SOCCOM. By late 2004, as guns came off the production line, they were going straight to the Area of Responsibility of SOCOM's 3rd Group.

On 18 June 2004 General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was awarded a $16 million firm-fixed-price contract from the US government for production of the MK47 MOD 0 Weapon System, a lightweight 40mm grenade launcher. General Dynamics is partnered with Raytheon (Forest, Miss.) to build the Lightweight Video System (LVS) fire control, designed by General Dynamics Canada of Ottawa, Ontario. Program administration will be conducted at General Dynamics' Burlington, Vt., facility.

In July 2004 the Marine Corps Systems Command on behalf of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory negotiated with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., 128 Lakeside Ave., Burlington, VT 05401 on a sole source basis for two (2) each Reconditioned MK47 Millimeter (mm) Advanced Lightweight Grenade Weapon Systems with Lightweight Video Sights and System Storage Cases, One (1) each Reconditioned MK47 Millimeter (mm) Advanced Lightweight Grenade Weapon Systems without Lightweight Video Sights and System Storage Cases, One (1) each Advanced Lightweight Grenade Weapon Systems Spare Parts Package, and One (1) lot MK47 Millimeter (mm) Advanced Lightweight Grenade Weapon Systems New Equipment Training.

The Marine Corps has a requirement for a 40mm grenade launcher that combines the firepower and lethality inherent to a heavy machine gun while preserving, as much as possible, the mobility and maneuverability of foot-mobile, infantry forces. Currently, the Marine Corps holds MK-19 40mm grenade launchers in its inventory.

While doctrinally employable in offensive and defensive operations, the weight of the MK-19 (140lbs) and its ammunition restricts its use in the offense to when it can be mounted on a vehicle. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab conducted an examination of state of the art heavy machine gun technology. As a part of this overall effort, MCWL experimented to determine if the MK-47’s total system weight of 85lbs combined with increased accuracy and lethality (with a potential for a commensurate reduction in ammunition load) make this technology appropriate for consideration.