The first new hand grenade for U.S. grunts and leathernecks in over 40 years will be a "multi-purpose grenade" that's a lot more lethal, electronically detonated and "politically correct."

The Enhanced Tactical Multi-Purpose (ET-MP) hand grenade now under development will be the U.S. Army's next generation hand grenade. It will replace the M67 fragmentation hand grenade used by the U.S. armed forces since the 1960s.

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The ET-MP will provide both fragmentation and blast overpressure more effectively and safely than the M67. Soldiers will be able to select and use a hand grenade with different effects simply by flipping a switch.

ET-MP represents the first hand grenade that can be tailored to a mission. This means soldiers won't need to carry as many types of hand grenades for a mission.

With these upgrades in the ET-MP, not only is the fuze timing completely electronic, but the detonation time can now be narrowed down into milliseconds, and until armed, the hand grenade won't detonate.

Another feature is the grenade is "politically correct," that is, it's designed for ambidextrous use, meaning that they can be thrown with either hand. The M67 requires a different arming procedure for left-handed users.

Engineers at Picatinny Arsenal are working on the ET-MP and have been working with Infantry School representatives, hand grenade experts and active duty soldiers and marines to determine warfighter needs regarding hand grenades.

Development of the ET-MP at Picatinny is being performed by engineers with the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC). The grenade will be designed to meet performance requirements required for close combat engagements in which the effects must be lethal.

ARDEC is working with the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia and the Program Manager for Close Combat Systems to use critical technologies with soldier-centric designs to improve safety and ease of use.

TagsEnhanced Tactical Multi-Purpose (ET-MP) hand grenade, ET-MP, U.S. Army, Picatinny Arsenal, U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center