Estonia signed a framework contract with Rheinmetall in the second quarter of 2025 for the delivery of hand grenades. The order, worth around €17 million gross, includes splinter grenades to be delivered in 2026 and 2027, and offensive hand grenades from 2026 to 2029, each in significant quantities.
Lithuania had already placed an order in December 2024 for several tens of thousands of 40mm x 46 high-explosive fragmentation (HE Frag) combat cartridges. Valued at around €16 million gross, this ammunition is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027.
Rheinmetall described itself as a “one-stop shop” for 40mm systems and highlighted its global leadership in ammunition, weapon systems and fire control technologies. Its 40mm x 46 low-velocity (LV) ammunition is compatible with all standard and attachable grenade launchers of the same calibre.
The LV cartridges reach a velocity of 76 m/s and are effective up to 400 metres, currently used by several NATO member states. A more advanced variant, the 40mm x 46 Medium Velocity (MV) ammunition, offers an acceleration of around 100 m/s, enabling a flatter trajectory and extending the effective range to 900 metres.
Rheinmetall will commence series production of its Squad Support Weapon 40 in 2025, described as “the world’s first magazine-fed automatic shoulder-fired grenade launcher”. The system is capable of firing both MV and LV ammunition, enhancing flexibility and battlefield effectiveness for infantry forces.
Additionally, the company’s 40mm ammunition portfolio includes 40mm x 53 high-velocity rounds for automatic grenade launchers. This variant features a muzzle velocity of 130 m/s and an operational range of up to 2,000 metres.
