US Military Orders MK281 Grenade Practice Ammo

The U.S. military has awarded a $32.5 million contract to procure Rheinmetall MK281 MOD3 40mm grenade practice ammunition.

This modification will allow the ordering of up to a maximum of 1,051,734 additional MK281 MOD 3 40MM high velocity day/night practice cartridges, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement today.

Work is expected to be complete by September 25, 2023.

The non-toxic cartridge employs target marking and is fired from a MK19 belt fed automatic grenade launcher.

The MK281 design reduces customer costs by eliminating unexploded ordnance and range fires. Furthermore, it permits users to practice fire-and-manoeuvre operation.