The 40AGL 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher was originally developed by Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS) (now amalgamated with Ordnance Development and Engineering) for infantry support applications mounted on a tripod.

It is now being marketed for a much wider range of applications including mounting on vehicles and marine craft. The 40AGL 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher together with the CIS 50MG 12.7 mm machine gun forms the armament of the CIS 40/50 weapons system which is fully described in the AFV turrets and cupolas section.

This one-person cupola is being fitted to a number of M113 series APCs of the Singapore Army as part of a major upgrade that also includes the provision of additional armour.

For trial purposes the CIS 40AGL 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher has been installed over the rear troop compartment of a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle in the Czech Republic.

This turret is also installed on one version of the new Bionix infantry fighting vehicle developed in Singapore by Singapore Technologies Corporation.

Details of this upgrade programme, which is now being offered on the export market, are given in the engines, transmission and power pack sections.

The 40AGL 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher is an air-cooled, direct blowback-operated automatic grenade launcher, firing standard US Type-classified and CIS 40 mm high-velocity grenades.

Maximum range is quoted as 2,200 m with effective range exceeding 1,500 m.

The weapon fires 40 mm grenades, belted by metal links, from an open bolt position and consists of four main assemblies: the barrel and receiver assembly, bolt and backplate assembly, feed cover assembly and trigger mechanism and rear sight assembly.

The 40 mm grenades are fed from the left by pawls actuated by movement of the bolt. As the bolt recoils, it causes a round to move half a cartridge distance. When the bolt is released by the trigger mechanism and moves forward, it causes the round to move another half cartridge distance and align with the barrel chamber.

Just before the round is fully chambered, the firing pin is released to strike the primer and ignite the round. As the bolt is driven back, it both extracts and ejects the spent cartridge case to the right and at the same time causes the next round to be moved half a cartridge distance, and the whole operation is repeated.

The launcher can be fired either manually by remote control, using an electrical solenoid, or in fully automatic mode at 350 rds/min (minimum).

In addition to firing standard US rounds including M430 HEDP, M383 HE, M384 HE and M385 practice, the weapon can also fire the following locally produced CIS rounds which come in belts of 16,32 and 48 rounds ready for immediate use:

(1) High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP), S411

(2) High Explosive Dual Purpose with self-destruct (HEDP-SD), S413

(3) High Explosive (HE), S412

(4) Target Practice Tracer (TPT), S415A

(5) Target Practice (TP), S416A

CIS has also developed the 'Lock and Fire Mount' for integration onto mobile platforms.

Production. In service with Singapore on upgraded M113 series APCs and several other undisclosed countries.