In 1994, Intellitec completed a multi-year development and production contract for the US Army Discharger, Grenade, Smoke, Countermeasure, M6.

The discharger, a component of the Multisalvo Smoke Grenade Launcher (MSGL) met all operational requirements and was type classified by the US Army in September 1993.

The MSGL consists of a battery of M6 dischargers plus vehicle-specific mounting adaptors to provide smoke protection over the required angular sectors.

Intellitec has also developed control hardware and software to integrate the MSGL into the planned Vehicle Integrated Defense System (VIDS), an automated sensor and countermeasure suite which is currently under development. Brief details of this are given in a later entry.

The M6 discharger will be installed on the M1A1/ M1A2 series of MBTs, the M2/M3 Bradley IFV/CFVand future armoured vehicles. On the M2/M3 Bradley, for example, the two pods of four tubes are mounted either side of the turret front firing forwards.

The M6, which is wired to allow additional ; addressability of its four firing tubes, is slated to replace the older four- and six-round 66 mm dischargers, for example the M250 and M243 types currently used by the US Army.

The design of the M6 discharger provides a reduced radar signature and allows for computerised inventory and fire control, when deployed as part of the MSGL.

Under the initial phase, Intellitec delivered 640 dischargers which are being used for the initial production of the Crusader 155 mm artillery system which consists of the 155 mm self-propelled howitzer XM2001 and the companion resupply vehicle, the XM2002 and the Heavy Assault Bridge (HAB) which is based on the M1 ÌÂÒ chassis.

Future requirements for the M6 discharger are projected to be as many as 80,000 units, including usage for new vehicles and replacement of existing older configuration launchers.

Development complete. Ready for volume production. This system is not yet in front line service with the US Army or Marine Corps.