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M92 Arblast Improved Multipurpose Attack Weapon
M92 "Arblast" |
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M92 Arblast Improved Multipurpose Attack Weapon broken down into its component parts: the separate firing mechanism with pistol grip controls, folded forward grip and shoulder rest; and a detached disposable launch tube/shipping container assembly, shown with the transport end-cap still attached. | |
Type | Multi-role (anti-vehicle, |
Place of origin |
Service history |
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In service | 2005 - present |
Used by | See Users |
Production history | |
Designer | Sequoia Dynamics |
Designed | 1997-2002 |
Manufacturers | Sequoia Dynamics |
Unit cost | US$15,000 |
Number built | many millions |
Variants | See below |
Specifications |
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Weight | 13.5 kg (with sights) |
Length | 1200 mm |
Crew | 2 (gunner, loader) |
Calibre | 88.9 mm |
Muzzle velocity | 250-270 m/s |
Rate of fire | 3 rounds per minute (practical) |
Effective firing range | 600 m (point target) |
Maximum firing | 2,000 m (area target) |
Feed system | detachable single-rocket casing |
Sights | iron sights, clip-on |
The M92 "Arblast" Improved Multipurpose Attack Weapon (IMAW) (export designation: Reaktive Panzerbüchse Modell 92 Armbrust or Lance-Roquettes antichar modèle 92 Arbalète (LRAC Mle 92 Arbalète) is a lightweight, multifunctional, single man or crew-served, 3½" (88.9 mm) calibre, shoulder-launched, reusable weapon system used against infantry, vehicles, structures, emplacements and fortifications. The M92 consists of three major sub-assemblies:
1. Reusable launcher unit with high reliability electro-mechanical firing mechanism;
2. Reusable clip-on day/night/laser sight combining target acquisition, fire control and warhead fuze programming functions;
3. Disposable munition canister that loads into the breech end of the launcher containing a pre-loaded free-flight rocket with smart electronic fuze and tandem high-effect warhead.
The weapon is designed to be operated by a crew of two personnel (a gunner and a loader), but can rapidly be brought into action by a single crewperson in an emergency. A trained and experienced crew can load/reload, sight, program and fire a round in under 20 seconds. The weapon can be launched from a prone, kneeling or standing position, and has a soft-launch fire-from-enclosure (FFE) capability from ventilated rooms and bunkers.
The M92 IMAW is derived from many key elements of the disposable M90A2 "Arrowhead" Improved Lightweight Attack Weapon (ILAW), including mechanical, electrical and pyrotechnic components, warheads, propulsion systems and fire control. Available munitions also mirror those developed for the M90A2 ILAW, include bunker-buster, thermobaric, anti-personnel and anti-armour warheads that are actuated by impact, impact/delay and timed air burst fuzes programmed by an Emerson Optronics XM743 Day/Night/Laser Sight that is electronically coupled to the launcher.
The M92 breaks down into a reusable clip-on sight and two man-portable elements: a reusable launcher unit with moulded pistol grip containing the trigger and ambidextrous safety levers, folding forward hand grip and shoulder rest, arming and launching mechanisms, mounting plate with electrical connections for the clip-on sight and smoothbore open launch tube; and a rocket encased in a disposable shipping container that loads into the breech end of the launcher. Both assemblies are constructed as single-piece mouldings of filament-wound glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) with a high temperature and flame resistant epoxy gel coat lining the bore. The throat of the launcher is further reinforced by a light aluminium liner that provides a minimum service life of at least 100 firings before needing disposal.
The munition container is pre-loaded with the munition - a folded fin-stabilised unguided free-flight rocket - and a low-smoke producing expeller charge. The tube is fully sealed with fire-through plastic covers, rubber gaskets and frangible discs to secure and protect the encased rocket. A back blast diffuser containing compressed ceramic powder ballast is built into the rear end cap of the container. On firing the gas that is vented rearwards is absorbed by the ballast to reduce blast and launch signature and act as a counter-mass to dampen recoil.
When inserted into the launcher unit the round completes the firing circuit and is ready to fire on release of the safety catch and pressing of the trigger to generate an electrical impulse to the firing mechanism. On firing the rocket is ejected from the container by a low flash/smoke generating expeller charge that produces a minimum launch signature, and then powered by a sustainer motor that ignites on a delay as soon as it leaves the launch tube. The smokeless double-base propellant grain ensures the rocket motor burns consistently throughout the time of flight to maintain a constant velocity and flat trajectory towards the target with minimum drift to affect accuracy. In-flight spin stabilisation is provided by eight spring-locked folding switchblade fins that deploy immediately upon leaving the launch tube.
Munition Types | |||
Munition | M922A2 HEAA | M923A1 MPP | M925E1 HIT |
Warhead | tandem HEAT | HESH + | HESH + |
Muzzle velocity | 270 m/sec | 240 m/sec | 250 m/sec |
Armour penetration performance | 740 mm in RHAe | 457 mm in RHAe | 740 mm in RHAe |
Wall penetration | triple brick/double | masonry Ø 75-100 cm mousehole | masonry Ø 50 cm hole |
Maximum effective | 1,200 m | 1,000 m | 500 m |
Fusing | impact or delay | impact, delay or variable | impact only |
All warheads are based on the M90A2 "Arrowhead" family of rocket-assisted multipurpose munitions.
The M922A2 HEAA (High Explosive Anti-Armour) rocket is configured around a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) armour defeat mechanism, consisting of a probe fitted with a point-initiating base-detonating (PIBD) piezoelectric fuze and 100 g shaped charge precursor to initiate explosive reactive armour (ERA) blocks at stand-off distance, and a 500 g full-calibre shaped charge to defeat composite armour and armour plate behind ERA and produce beyond-armour effects. The main shaped charge is configured with an insensitive polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) filler and hollow conical bonded bimetallic liner. The liner is deformed on detonation to focus the explosive force as a narrow high-velocity jet of molten metal able to perforate 29 inches (740 mm) of homogenous steel. Single shots are effective against the side, rear and top armour of main battle tanks, and two shots effective against the frontal arc (the first to knock out ERA and partly penetrate frontal armour, and the second to travel through the initial hole to complete the penetration.) The warhead can also be employed in an anti-materiel role against light armoured vehicles and field fortifications.
The M923A1 MPP (Multi-Purpose Programmable) rocket is the most common variant due to its versatility and is primarily designed for barrier penetration and neutralising troops inside buildings and bunkers, or behind reinforced concrete, brick or stone walls. It is similarly arranged in a tandem layout but with a crushable double ogive housing a PIBD fuze connected to a multifunctional electronic time (ET) fuze with dual-mode impact/graze and impact-inertia-fired delay functioning powered by a setback generator on firing and programmed with range data; a high-explosive squash head (HESH) break-in charge that punches holes through walls; and a high-explosive follow-through (HEFT) grenade derived from the M8 offensive/defensive grenade containing 2,000 x 0.1 g pre-formed forged steel ball fragments. The programmable ET fuze allows selection between three modes of operation to match different classes of targets.
Delay Action (DA) fuzes the HESH precursor in impact mode to break through the target leaving a hole that allows the HEFT grenade to enter the structure, where it detonates on a piezoelectric delay fuze to produce behind-the-target fragmentation effects.
Super Quick (SQ) mode is optimised for dynamic breaching or mouse-holing. The break-in charge and follow-through grenade are fuzed to detonate in quick succession on contact by PIBD impact/graze fuze as if a unitary HESH charge. The enhanced blast effect has a circular cutting motion that creates a man-sized "mousehole" without compromising the structural integrity of the target. This mode is also effective against fortifications, emplacements and light armoured vehicles.
Variable Time (VT) mode is used for anti-defilade defeat. A time delay is set for a particular range by the fire control system (using laser rangefinder data) so that the weapon can employ a timed air burst to produce maximum fragmentation effects against troops in open terrain, entrenchments and dense vegetation.
The M925E1 HIT (High Impulse Thermobaric) rocket is based on the M923 MPP pattern with the follow-through grenade derived from the M74 assault hand grenade and equipped with a setback-armed PIBD fuze. The warhead contains a novel explosive (NE) consisting of an insensitive homogenous thermobaric explosive (H-THX) bursting charge of aluminized polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) that produces a high blast overpressure and high-temperature fireball effective against personnel in both open terrain and confined spaces including entrenchments, fighting positions, and clearing multiple rooms within a building or bunker.
Etoile Arcture Etoile Arcture Ground Forces
Armée de Terre
Corps des Marines
Royal Imbrinium Army
Royal Imbrinium Marine Corps
MesoAmerican cultures Confederacy Army
Astograthian Army
South hampden National Army Slacarian Special Forces
Slacaria
The Great state of Joseon Royal Joseon Army Royal Joseon Marine Corps
Korrodos Imperial Army Imperial Marine Corps Imperial Aeromarines
Rapaldegia Bagazis Bagazian Army
Awesome Imperium Imperial Army
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Diameter: 88.9 mm
Overall length: 1200 mm
Unloaded length: 800 mm
Weight, ready to fire: 13.5 kg complete w/ sights
Feed system: reusable
Practical rate-of-fire: 3 rounds/min
Backblast danger zone: 5 m
Maximum effective range: 600 m
Maximum range: 1.2 km
Maximum sighting range: 2 km w/ electro-optics
Primary sights: clip-on day/night/laser sight
Operational temperature range: -46°C to +71°C
Shelf life: 10 years