Shoulder Fired Systems
Nammo has manufactured shoulder fired systems since the 1960s, with licence production of the M72 beginning at Raufoss in Norway in 1966. Today Nammo is the only licensed manufacturer of the M72, with active production lines in two locations – Raufoss and Mesa, Arizona, the latter also being the only facility to manufacture such weapon systems anywhere in the United States.
In addition to the M72, Mesa also manufactures the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition for the US Army, while Nammo’s facilities in Columbus Mississippi manufactures ammunition for the SMAW-system for the US Marine Corps.
Making Sense of Defense
Did you know?
The main difference between a shoulder fired weapon like the M72 and an anti-tank guided missile is that the rocket on the shoulder fired weapon only burns for a very short while after being fired, and then relies on fins that extend once the warhead has left the tube to stabilize itself in flight. Without the need for a large rocket and a control system, the weapon becomes much lighter and cheaper than a guided missile.
Nammo SMAW ammunition has combat proven performance, providing accuracy and reliability to demolish bunkers, breach fortifications and defeat armored vehicles. Ammunition variants include High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP), Novel Explosive (NE), High Explosive Anti-Armor (HEAA) and the Common Practice Round (CPR). The crew served, man portable, reusable launcher weapon system is lightweight, versatile and effective.
BDM is the first lightweight shoulder fired weapon system with true Multipurpose effectiveness, and uses the same High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) rocket as in the USMC SMAW. The HEDP rocket is packaged in a rugged, compact telescoping, disposable launcher that has all gunner controls needed to aim and fire the weapon. The BDM is highly effective against double reinforced concrete, triple brick, solid adobe, earthen fortifications, caves and technical vehicles.
With more than a million systems delivered, the M72 represents one of the most successful shoulder fired systems ever developed.
