A NEW weapon is about to be released into service within the Australian Army and is expected to be in most units by the end of 2001.

The 40mm Grenade Launcher Assembly was originally designed by RM-Equipment in the United States and its sight is designed by Knights-Armament, also in the US. The system is put together by ADI-Limited in Lithgow. The same company also manufactures the inter-bar used to fit the launcher onto the barrel of the steyr.

M203's will be replaced by the 40mm GLA as they are introduced into service through the year.

WO2 Tony Minniti, DMO Armaments systems program office, has been involved with the evaluation of the weapon since the beginning.

He said the reason the new 40mm GLA is being put into service is to have two capabilities from the same weapon.

"The M203 fit on the M16. Then there's the M79, obviously a separate weapon. The new 40mm fits onto the steyr so a soldier doesn't need two separate weapons."

A quadrant reflex sight is what gives the 40mm GLA its edge.

"The sight consists of four points and a red dot. The dot is provided by a L.E.D projection onto the lens of the sight.

"First, the operator has to estimate the range then set the quadrant to the estimated range, place the red dot in the centre of the lens and onto the target. He'll hit the target every time."

WO2 Minniti said firing a steyr fitted with the GLA does slightly affect the zeroing.

"We found first that if the steyr was zeroed, firing of the launcher would slightly change the adjustment, after rezeroing there was no further shift in zero.

The 40mm GLA is capable of firing practice high explosive dual purpose and elimination rounds.

Its range is from 50 - 400 metres with a maximum effective range of 350 metres.

Strong enough to withstand the toughest treatment a soldier can put it through, the launcher has been tested in all environments and conditions.

Environments typical to those a soldier must work in, over obstacle courses, on route marches, through field firing exercises and through dust, mud, water and sand.

WO2 Darby Matthews, CATC, said dry-training was run to convert soldiers, as per the DCGS's directive, with five compulsory GLA lessons.

"On lesson completion, a test was run to ensure the users were safe and knew the weapon system. Handlers passed the conversion test after a live-fire during which two practice and two HEDP rounds were fired," he said.

"This was a confirmation of the weapons lessons that will be conducted throughout Australia."

WO2 Matthews has converted a series of instructors from the School of Infantry and CATC to travel Australia through May and June.

Conversion courses have already started in Perth and the team will travel to every major garrison. One to four conversion courses will be run for weapons trainers within units who will then train the rest of the unit.

WO2 Matthews said that although this weapon has become an all-corps system, the priority is obviously the Land Command units.

"The first units to be issued in Australia are the School of Infantry followed by RMC. Following them will be Land Command units in Darwin, Townsville and Brisbane. 3RAR will receive their issue at the same time as Brisbane."

By PTE Simone Heyer-Irwin