New 25mm Precision Grenadier System Advances to Help U.S. Infantry Counter Drones and Hidden Troops.

Northrop Grumman and Barrett Firearms have partnered at AUSA 2026 in Washington to advance the 25mm Precision Grenadier System (PGS), a shoulder-fired grenade launcher designed to help U.S. infantry counter small drones and enemy troops behind cover. The collaboration aims to accelerate weapon development and production, bringing programmable ammunition and new engagement capabilities to infantry squads facing aerial and ground threats.

The 25mm Precision Grenadier System (PGS), displayed at AUSA 2026 in Washington, is a shoulder-fired grenade launcher designed to help U.S. infantry counter small drones and enemy troops behind cover using programmable ammunition. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The collaboration comes as the U.S. Army seeks to equip soldiers with more versatile weapons capable of addressing an increasingly diverse range of battlefield threats. Small drones now pose a persistent danger to infantry formations, while conventional small arms and grenade launchers face limitations when engaging aerial targets or enemy personnel protected behind obstacles. The PGS is designed to address these requirements by combining semi-automatic fire, an advanced fire-control system, and several types of 25mm ammunition.

Under the agreement, Barrett Firearms will manufacture the grenade launcher at its facility in Nashville, Tennessee, and integrate the inductive programming device used to configure compatible ammunition. Northrop Grumman will continue developing the weapon and its ammunition family, drawing on its experience in medium-caliber weapons and automated manufacturing processes. This division of responsibilities between weapon production and ammunition development is intended to establish an industrial structure capable of supporting future U.S. and international orders.

The Precision Grenadier System is a lightweight, semi-automatic grenade launcher weighing less than 5.4 kilograms and fed by a five-round magazine. Its design aims to reduce the load carried by individual soldiers while maintaining a weapon suited to field conditions. Unlike traditional grenade launchers that primarily use impact-detonated ammunition, the PGS combines an advanced fire-control system with programmable projectiles, allowing soldiers to adjust ammunition effects according to the target and its surrounding environment.

One of the system's main technical features is its inductive programming device, which transfers information to compatible projectiles before firing. This architecture allows the weapon to use ammunition with different detonation modes, including impact and airburst functions. The semi-automatic mechanism also enables soldiers to fire successive rounds without manually reloading after each shot, an advantage when engaging multiple targets or responding to rapidly emerging threats.

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Northrop Grumman has developed four types of 25mm ammunition for the PGS, covering airburst detonation, proximity detonation, close-quarters combat, and training requirements. The High Explosive Air Burst (HEAB) round uses a programmable dual-warhead explosive configuration capable of detonating in flight or upon impact. This capability is intended to engage enemy personnel positioned behind walls, earthworks, or other obstacles that normally reduce the effectiveness of direct fire.

The proximity-detonated round addresses another requirement that has become increasingly relevant on modern battlefields. Designed to trigger fragmentation near a target, it is intended to engage small drones, whether hovering or moving. For short-range engagements, the Close Quarter Battle ammunition is suited to fighting in confined environments, particularly inside buildings and trenches. A dedicated training round completes the ammunition family, allowing soldiers to become familiar with the weapon before its operational use.

The PGS is intended to give infantry squads a means of engaging targets that would normally require specialized support weapons or additional counter-drone equipment. The combination of airburst and proximity-detonated ammunition could allow soldiers to respond to approaching drones while retaining the ability to engage enemy personnel behind cover. This flexibility is particularly relevant during dispersed infantry operations, where immediate access to vehicle-mounted weapons, electronic warfare equipment, or dedicated air-defense systems cannot always be guaranteed.

The agreement also reflects efforts to make advanced ammunition technologies available to individual soldiers. Northrop Grumman's use of common components and existing automated manufacturing lines could facilitate a gradual increase in production, while Barrett's involvement provides dedicated industrial capacity for manufacturing the grenade launcher. At this stage, neither company has announced production volumes, a delivery schedule, or a confirmed procurement contract under the new partnership. The announcement therefore concerns industrial cooperation and continued system development rather than an immediate operational deployment.

Beyond the U.S. market, the Precision Grenadier System could attract interest from allied militaries seeking to improve infantry protection against small drones and fortified ground positions. The war in Ukraine and other recent conflicts have demonstrated how small unmanned aircraft can threaten individual soldiers and dispersed units, increasing demand for defensive weapons that can be employed directly at squad level. By combining programmable ammunition with a portable infantry weapon, the partnership between Northrop Grumman and Barrett Firearms reflects changes in U.S. infantry armament in response to evolving ground combat conditions, with potential implications for NATO force modernization and the international market for counter-drone weapons.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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