The U.S. Army has awarded FN America a $2 million contract to further develop its Precision Grenadier System (PGS) prototype.
The funding will support maturation of FN’s MTL-30 — a semi-automatic, soldier-portable 30 mm grenade launcher — concentrating on reliability, manufacturability, and systems integration rather than immediate production.
Designed to fire modular 30 mm rounds, the MTL-30 aims to engage targets in defilade, counter small unmanned aerial systems, and provide greater range and accuracy than legacy 40 mm systems. Key features include a detachable 3- or 5-round magazine, ambidextrous controls, an M4-style telescoping stock, and a modular rail for optics and sensors.
FN states the MTL-30 already meets core performance thresholds and is being refined to meet Army specifications. The PGS effort forms part of a wider Army drive to boost squad-level lethality. Earlier attempts to field similar capability — most notably the XM25 airburst program — were terminated after persistent reliability issues, a live-fire accident, and rising costs, with formal cancellation in 2018.
More recently, the Army has favored competitive prototype programs to find practical solutions: the 2025 xTechSoldier Lethality competition featured live demos and awards for candidate systems, highlighting not only ballistic performance but also manufacturability, maintainability, and soldier ergonomics.
