The US Army has teamed up with Battelle to complete the full material release process for the new M111 Offensive Hand Grenade, paving the way for full-rate production of the service’s first newly developed hand grenade since the Vietnam War era.
Working alongside the Army’s Close Combat Systems Program Office, Battelle supported the program through weapon assembly, design development, process validation testing, and qualification activities. The company produced nearly 7,000 test grenades and conducted both first-article and lot acceptance testing to meet military approval requirements.
According to Battelle, several years of development were required to refine manufacturing methods, improve lethality, and ensure operational safety before the grenade entered production.
The octagonal M111 has been designed as a safer replacement for the legacy M67 grenade. Instead of relying primarily on fragmentation, the weapon uses blast overpressure effects and is engineered to be fully consumed during detonation. This approach reduces the risk of friendly-force casualties while enhancing effectiveness in close-quarters combat environments.
