USMC to acquire M72 LAW FFE variants

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is set to add a newly developed fire-from-enclosure (FFE) capability to its inventory of M72 Light Assault Weapon (LAW) variant pre-loaded, single-use, shoulder-launched unguided weapon systems.

The US Army Contracting Command, acting on behalf of the Project Manager-Close Combat Systems (PM-CCS), on 31 July issued a solicitation for “the production of M72 Light Assault Weapon (LAW) variants and components for Shoulder Launched Munitions (SLM) training systems.” The PM-CCS is procuring the weapon systems with direction from, and on behalf of, the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) to meet an identified Marine Corps requirement.

Development of the new M72 A8/A10 FFE rounds has been finalised, and both are expected to be initially fielded with the US Marine Corps in the 2022 timeframe. (Nammo)

According to the solicitation, “the [US] Government is fulfilling this requirement via a Sole Source, Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a period of performance of five years.” The contract will be executed with Nammo Defense Systems (NDS), based in Mesa, Arizona.

The required LAW variants include: the M72A7 LAW with Graze Fuze Function and Night Vision Device (NVD) Mount, M72A9 LAW Anti-Structure Munition (ASM), M72A8 LAW Fire FFE and NVD Mount, M72A10 LAW FFE ASM and NVD Mount, M72AS FFE Trainer Launcher Kit, M72AS Trainer Launcher Kit, HA21 21mm Trainer Rocket, and Components for SLM Training Systems.