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DEFEA 2025: Rheinmetall’s SSW40 Grenade Launcher Combines Lightness, Precision, and Firepower of an Assault Rifle.
At the DEFEA 2025 defense exhibition held in Athens, Rheinmetall is presenting its SSW40 automatic grenade launcher, designed as a squad-level fire support weapon. This next-generation system stands out for its ability to fire 40mm grenades while maintaining a size and weight comparable to that of an assault rifle, allowing for shoulder-fired use without requiring a heavy support system.
The SSW40 is a magazine-fed automatic grenade launcher featuring a recoil reduction mechanism and a self-regulating recoil system (Picture source: Rheinmetall)
The SSW40 is a magazine-fed automatic grenade launcher featuring a recoil reduction mechanism and a self-regulating recoil system. These technical features enable the weapon to fire all types of 40mm low-velocity (LV) grenades, while also being compatible with Rheinmetall’s new medium-velocity (MV) ammunition. The latter offers a significantly higher muzzle velocity and a flatter trajectory, improving the system’s responsiveness and extending its effective range to 900 meters. Until now, this type of ammunition has typically been used only with much larger and heavier automatic grenade launchers.
The system is designed to accommodate a wide range of ammunition types, including high-explosive fragmentation (HEFRAG), high-explosive dual purpose (HEDP), door-breaching (HEBE), airburst (HEAB), training rounds (TPM, TPM-T), illumination and smoke, flashbang, and CS gas for riot control. Each magazine holds five rounds, allowing the operator to switch quickly between ammunition types based on mission requirements, adapt force levels as needed, and engage lightly armored targets.
The SSW40 is also equipped with multiple interface options compatible with a variety of accessories, including laser modules, fire control units, infrared programmers for airburst munitions, as well as mounting systems for tripods or ring mounts. This modularity enhances the system’s flexibility in infantry operations and supports integration on vehicles or fixed positions.
One of the SSW40’s key attributes is its adaptability to a broad range of operational scenarios, from urban combat to the defense of critical infrastructure. In close-quarter engagements, it can be employed to neutralize threats behind cover using airburst or anti-armor munitions. In rural or mountainous terrain, the flatter trajectory of MV rounds enables precise targeting of medium-range threats, including light vehicles or makeshift fortifications. For special forces or law enforcement units, the SSW40 provides a compact option for breaching operations with HEBE grenades, while also offering non-lethal crowd control capabilities with CS gas. This tactical flexibility, combined with quick reloading and the ability to change ammunition types rapidly, makes it a suitable tool for dynamic engagements requiring scalable force responses.
Rheinmetall’s presentation of the SSW40 at DEFEA 2025 reflects the company’s approach to meeting evolving requirements for compact and versatile fire support weapons at the squad level. The system’s compact dimensions and substantial firepower, comparable to larger weapon platforms, may appeal to armed forces seeking to enhance the capabilities of dismounted infantry units. This addition to Rheinmetall’s portfolio reinforces its position in the domain of specialized lightweight armaments, amid growing demand for adaptable systems tailored to diverse operational environments, including urban and asymmetric warfare.