[Discussion] Army Clears M111, First New Lethal Hand Grenade Since 1968

[Uncrowned Guard]

Army Clears M111 Offensive Grenade for Service

The U.S. Army has approved the M111 Offensive Hand Grenade for Full Material Release, marking the first new lethal hand grenade cleared for service since the Mk3A2 entered use in 1968. The M111 was developed by the Capabilities Program Executive Office for Ammunition and Energetics in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal. It is intended to replace the Mk3A2 series, which has faced restrictions due to its asbestos-containing body.

Unlike its predecessor, the M111 features a plastic body that is fully consumed during detonation, eliminating asbestos-related concerns and modernizing the Army’s offensive grenade capability.

Designed for Close-Quarters Combat

The M111 is engineered specifically for confined and enclosed environments. Rather than relying on fragmentation, it incapacitates targets through blast overpressure (BOP). This makes it particularly suited for urban combat scenarios such as rooms, bunkers, trenches, and tunnels, where fragmentation effects may be deflected by walls or structures and pose a risk to friendly forces.

Army officials cited lessons from urban fighting in Iraq, noting that fragmentation grenades such as the M67 were not always appropriate for room-clearing due to the risk of fratricide through walls or confined spaces. In contrast, the M111’s blast overpressure effect is less influenced by obstacles and is intended to deliver consistent lethality within enclosed areas.

In open terrain, soldiers will continue to employ the M67 fragmentation grenade to maximize fragment dispersion. The introduction of the M111 provides an additional option tailored to restricted terrain.

Technical Specifications and Standardization

The M111 measures 4.41 inches in length, 2.37 inches in diameter, and weighs approximately 12.6 ounces. Its octagonal shape is designed to improve grip and prevent rolling after deployment. The grenade uses a 4- to 5.5-second delay fuze and is paired with the M213 fuze assembly.

Standardization was a key design objective. The M111 and its training variant, the M112, use the same five-step arming process as the M67 and its training counterpart, the M69. Both also share common fuze components. This alignment allows soldiers to train with procedures identical to operational use while enabling the Army to leverage existing fuze production lines, reducing procurement costs.

The Army retains government-owned intellectual property rights for the system, allowing competitive contracting across the industrial base.

Production and Fielding

Initial qualification quantities of the M111 were produced by Battelle. Full-rate production will be carried out by Day & Zimmermann, Inc. The Army expects the new grenade to improve operational readiness by providing a safer and more adaptable capability for close-quarters engagements.

With the M111’s approval, the Army adds a modernized offensive grenade to its inventory, expanding tactical flexibility while maintaining compatibility with existing training and logistics systems.

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