Beretta GLX-160
Notes: The GLX-160 is an underbarrel grenade launcher designed for use with the
new ARX-160 assault rifle and is also part of the
Soldato Futuro program, a large small
arms modernization program currently being conducted by the Italian Army.
In addition to its use with the still-evolving ARX-160, Albanian special
forces use some 35 of them (along with their 100 new ARX-160s), and the GLX-160
is also being used as an underbarrel grenade launcher for the AR-70/90 assault
rifle by the Italian Army.
The GLX-160 can use an 11-inch or 16-inch barrel – interchangeably, with longer
and shorter barrels able to be mounted easily by the individual soldier in the
field. The GLX-160 system also
includes a snap-on gripstock that has a sliding buttstock, a raised comb, and a
thick rubber recoil pad; the stock is based on the stock of the HK/Benelli M-4
shotgun (used by the US as the M-1014 shotgun). The stock is connected to the
rest of the gripstock by thick, strong aluminum-alloy spar, with the rest of the
gripstock providing a mount for the GLX-160’s barrel and firing mechanism, a
polymer pistol grip, a monolithic MIL-STD-1913 rail above the barrel, sling
swivels, and a folding set of iron sights, including a leaf sight and a front
quick-engagement sight.
Construction is primarily of polymer and high-strength aluminum alloys. The
11-inch barrel is meant for underbarrel use; the 16-inch barrel is primarily
meant for use only as a support weapon with the gripstock attached.
(If nothing else, a 16-inch underbarrel launcher would be quite unwieldy,
but there is nothing to prevent this type of installation.) The GLX-160 uses a
double-action mechanism, and numerous passive safeties ensure that the GLX-160
cannot fire unless the breech is locked properly, the round is loaded properly
inside the barrel, the GLX-160 is properly mounted on the rifle or gripstock,
and basically everything is right.
Loading, reloading, and unloading is done by simply pulling down on the barrel
while sliding it forward; it moves forward enough to allow for the loading of
newer types of low-velocity 40mm rounds that are longer in length than the
standard 40x46mm round. Attachment
to a firearm is via a MIL-STD-1913 rail interface.
Twilight 2000 Notes: the GLX-160 is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
|
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazine |
Price |
|
GLX-160 (11” Barrel w/o Gripstock) |
40mm NATO Low-Velocity |
1 kg |
1 Internal |
$351 |
|
GLX-160 (11” Barrel w/Gripstock)* |
40mm NATO Low-Velocity |
2.2 kg |
1 Internal |
$553 |
|
GLX-160 (16” Barrel w/o Gripstock) |
40mm NATO Low-Velocity |
1.45 kg |
1 Internal |
$508 |
|
GLX-160 (16” Barrel w/Gripstock)* |
40mm NATO Low-Velocity |
2.65 kg |
1 Internal |
$710 |
|
Weapon |
ROF |
Round |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
IFR |
|
GLX-160 (11”) |
SS |
APERS |
1 |
Nil |
22 |
Nil |
|
|
SS |
CHEM |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
Ferret |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
Flash-Bang |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
Flechette |
1 |
Nil |
43 |
Nil |
|
|
SS |
HE |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
HEAT |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
HEDP |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
HE Airburst |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
ILLUM |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
|
SS |
WP |
1 |
Nil |
97 |
390 |
|
GLX-160 (16”) |
SS |
APERS |
1 |
Nil |
25 |
Nil |
|
|
SS |
CHEM |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
Ferret |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
Flash-Bang |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
Flechette |
1 |
Nil |
48 |
Nil |
|
|
SS |
HE |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
HEAT |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
HEDP |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
HE Airburst |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
ILLUM |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
|
|
SS |
WP |
1 |
Nil |
109 |
435 |
*Bulk for the 11” barrel version with gripstock is 2/4; with the 16” barrel, it
is 3/5.