M360
M-360
Ranged Ballistic Explosive Targeting System (RaBETS)
Caliber: 40x48mm (accepts 40x46mm rounds)
Effective range: 350 yards (w/ rangefinder)
Weight: 7.2 lbs unloaded (2 lb launcher, 1.2 lb sight, 4 lb computer)
Developer: Darkstar Military Armaments
History
Ever since the development of the XM148, rifle-mounted grenade launchers have become a major part of the modern battlefield. They allow the average rifleman to fulfill the role of grenadier, without carrying a stand-alone weapon, and with a wide variety of ammunition at their disposal, they can be very versatile. But they have limitations. Most notably is accuracy; they require a special set of sights to be attached to the rifle, and even then it’s guesswork, at best. Another problem was the inability to detonate grenades above the target, a feature known as “airburst” mode, which often increases the effectiveness of the round. Grenade launchers with airburst technology have been developed, but they are bulky, stand-alone weapons that fire unique calibers.
A solution was needed, and the men and women of Darkstar Military Armaments came up with a new solution; a rifle-mounted weapon that can fire smart munitions such as airburst grenades, and retain the ability to accurately place “dumb” grenades on target. The result of their research is the M-360 RaBETS.
Specifications
The M-360 RaBETS (Ranged Ballistic Explosive Targeting System) is meant to give a squad grenadier a launcher with the accuracy and airburst ability of the XM25, but in a weapon that can be mounted on a rifle or used as a stand-alone weapon, using either a Dumbfire or Airburst mode. It is a modular weapon that consists of three components; the sight, the launcher and the computer.
The sight is an advanced powered optic designed to be mounted on top of a rifle. It resembles the Trijicon ACOG sight, but is slightly larger. The sight has two settings, Rifle and Launcher. In Rifle setting, it acts as a standard reflex sight, like the ACOG- by default, the sight is zeroed to the rifle. When in Launcher mode, which is activated by pressing the Setting button on the launcher, the sight re-zeroes itself to adjust for the ballistic arc of the grenade. The sight has an integrated laser rangefinder for finding the range to a target. In the system’s Dumbfire mode, the rangefinder shows the best angle to fire the grenade at for the most accurate impact, lighting up a green LED inside and on top of the sight to show the proper angle is acquired. In Airburst mode, the rangefinder’s results are used to program the fuze in the grenade. All results are displayed on a liquid crystal screen inside the weapon. The sight also has integrated night vision, which can be toggled. The sight is powered by an advanced solar-charged battery, which is attached to the bottom of the sight, and also holds the rail mount system and wireless receiver. The battery holds a charge for about 24 hours. The sight also comes with a flip-out manual iron sight, as a back-up if the battery dies.
The launcher module is a single-shot, breech-loading 40mm grenade launcher based off the M320 launcher. It is longer than the M320, and is designed to hold the 40x48mm rounds designed for the system; however, it can fit and fire almost any 40x46mm grenade. The launcher holds the device that programs the fuze in the smart rounds in Airburst mode, and also holds the button that activates the laser rangefinder, and the switch for switching the sight between the Rifle and Launcher settings. The Setting switch and safety are ambidexterous, and the rangefinder button can be activated with the thumb on either hand, making the system convenient for left- and right-handed shooters. The barrel can also be rotated, allowing the breech to open on either the left or right side. The wireless receiver and 9v battery are held inside the pistol grip, and the launcher has a tiny laser reader that can determine what type of round is being fired, based on an indentation on the back of the casing. Because the rounds are low-pressure, the launcher makes very little noise when firing.
The computer is the most important module in the entire system- without it, the system wouldn’t be a “smart” weapon. The computer is very small, roughly the size of a medium-sized book, and weighs roughly four pounds. It can be clipped onto a uniform or body armor, or slipped into a backpack. It communicates between the other two components wirelessly via a very small transmitter, and is powered via a solar-charged battery with a life of 24 hours. The computer receives and interprets data from the sight, and then sends it back to the sight for aim adjustments. In Airburst mode, it also sends data to the launcher for programming the fuze. The computer also holds ballistic data on multiple types of rounds, which it can use to determine how the grenade will fly. Sensors on the computer can determine the temperature, wind speed and direction and air humidity of the enviroment around it, and use this to modify the targeting data. Upon receiving the data from the sight, it can come up with a very accurate target profile within half a second, and then show where the weapon should be aimed for maximum impact or proper detonation.
The sight and launcher are designed to be mounted on either a Picatinny or Weaver rail, but modifications were developed to allow them to be mounted on weapons that don’t. An attachment for a folding buttstock and pistol grip has also been developed, allowing the two to be clipped together as a stand-alone weapon.
Munitions
The M-360 is capable of firing any 40x46mm grenade, but it has several special rounds that were developed specifically for it. Unless otherwise stated, all rounds have Airburst capability.
HELLION
The standard-issue round for the M-360, the HELLION is a High-Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) grenade that combines the concussive force of an HE grenade with the lethal cloud of shrapnel of a fragmentation grenade. The round can be fired in impact-detonation mode or airburst mode, in which it will explode in mid-air, increasing it’s effectiveness.
iM203 Theovulcan
The Theovulcan is unique in that it is not an original round developed for the system, but an adaptation of a previously existing round, the UGMF’s iM203 incendiary grenade. The Theovulcan is simply the airburst version of the iM203, and was developed after a study showed that the iM203 is most effective when detonated a few feet away from the target, in the air. This allows maximum dispersal of it’s advanced napalm-like incendiary adhesive, which ignites once the round explodes. It also produces a blinding white light, thanks to phosphorous compounds which burn bright. The round burns hot- as in, 2,500 degrees Celsius hot, capable of melting through steel, thanks to it’s solid fuel, which has a high oxygen content and is also loaded with thermite.
XM-2 Fuel Air Burst Round (FABR)
FABR is a thermobaric, or fuel air explosive, grenade designed killing enemies hidden inside structures, bunkers and caverns. It uses the same explosive mix used in modern bunker buster bombs, but in a much smaller package. Upon detonation, it releases a shockwave which is amplified by the walls of the area it is detonated in- the denser the walls, the higher the amplification. It's airburst capability further enhances the blast wave- by detonating the grenade in the middle of a room, the blast wave will have time to reverberate off all of the walls, doubling it's power. It can also be used in open areas, but it's effectiveness is reduced in doing so.
M577, M578
Like the Theovulcan, the M577 is an adaptation of an existing round, the M576A1. The M577 is essentially a 40mm shotgun round, loaded with thirty #4 tactical buckshot pellets. The round does not have an airburst capability, because it is little more than an over-sized shotgun shell. However, it is devastatingly powerful in close-quarters combat.
The M578 is an M577 round with armor-piercing flechettes instead of buckshot.
FS14 Adhesive Irritant Round (AIR)
The FS14 AIR is a less-than-lethal round designed specifically for the M-360. When it explodes, it throws off an adhesive that reacts with oxygen, giving off fumes with a similar effect to CS tear gas. The grenade can only be used in airburst mode, and can shower multiple targets with the adhesive, making it useful for small groups, but less effective against crowds.
eXtended Range Electromuscular Projectile- Snare (XREP-S)
further development of the XREP shotgun Taser shell, the XREP-S is a combination of a net gun and a Taser, combined into a package that fits into a 40mm grenade. The round consists of a plastic casing surrounding a steel wire net, with an attached XREP round. The round leaves the barrel, then detonates to push the casing away, spread the net out and activate the XREP. The net tangles itself around the target, delivering a non-lethal electric shock for approximately twenty seconds. The round is self-contained, wireless, and the detonation distance can be set to double the range of the weapon (in dumb mode, the round detonates half a second after leaving the launcher). This makes it useful for incapacitating a fleeing suspect- the net not only knocks them down, but "tases" them, keeping them from moving until the shooter can approach them.
F8 Infrared Flare
A specialized flare developed for the weapon. Two seconds after firing, the flare gives off infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. However, with IR imaging equipment, the flare causes even the darkest area to become bright as day. The flare lasts for about sixty seconds, and stays in the air via parachute.
Eagle Eye
Perhaps the most unique round for the M-360, Eagle Eye is essentially a camera with a 360 degree view, inside a 40mm grenade. When launched, the round activates the camera, and deploys a parachute to slow it’s descent. The images from the camera are streamed directly to any AEGIS user within one mile of the round, showing up on their HUD. The round has only a small charge, which detonates when the camera lands; it’s sole purpose is to destroy the round. The round is cheaper and smaller than hand-held UAVs, and can be deployed almost anywhere.
Future Developments
As the weapon is still somewhat experimental, plans for new developments are being made in Darkstar’s R&D department. Currently, plans are being made for an option to “slave” the M-360’s computer to the AEGIS armor’s helmet and integrate the sight into the helmet, eliminating the need for the sight on the weapon. Future developments may completely integrate the computer into the helmet, meaning that only the launcher would need to be mounted.
Plans for a dedicated, stand-alone version of the M-360 are in the works. The idea is to create a “smart” version of the M32 MGL by integrating the sight into the weapon, allowing the six-round grenade launcher to fire smart munitions.
Because of the amount of electronics in the weapon, the development team is currently developing anti-EMP countermeasures that will be integrated into the weapon. This will allow the weapon to be used in areas with high residual electromagnetic energy, or in the vicinity of an EMP blast.
New munitions are constantly being developed for the weapon, and more advanced rounds may replace the ones already in service.
Ranged Ballistic Explosive Targeting System (RaBETS)
Caliber: 40x48mm (accepts 40x46mm rounds)
Effective range: 350 yards (w/ rangefinder)
Weight: 7.2 lbs unloaded (2 lb launcher, 1.2 lb sight, 4 lb computer)
Developer: Darkstar Military Armaments
History
Ever since the development of the XM148, rifle-mounted grenade launchers have become a major part of the modern battlefield. They allow the average rifleman to fulfill the role of grenadier, without carrying a stand-alone weapon, and with a wide variety of ammunition at their disposal, they can be very versatile. But they have limitations. Most notably is accuracy; they require a special set of sights to be attached to the rifle, and even then it’s guesswork, at best. Another problem was the inability to detonate grenades above the target, a feature known as “airburst” mode, which often increases the effectiveness of the round. Grenade launchers with airburst technology have been developed, but they are bulky, stand-alone weapons that fire unique calibers.
A solution was needed, and the men and women of Darkstar Military Armaments came up with a new solution; a rifle-mounted weapon that can fire smart munitions such as airburst grenades, and retain the ability to accurately place “dumb” grenades on target. The result of their research is the M-360 RaBETS.
Specifications
The M-360 RaBETS (Ranged Ballistic Explosive Targeting System) is meant to give a squad grenadier a launcher with the accuracy and airburst ability of the XM25, but in a weapon that can be mounted on a rifle or used as a stand-alone weapon, using either a Dumbfire or Airburst mode. It is a modular weapon that consists of three components; the sight, the launcher and the computer.
The sight is an advanced powered optic designed to be mounted on top of a rifle. It resembles the Trijicon ACOG sight, but is slightly larger. The sight has two settings, Rifle and Launcher. In Rifle setting, it acts as a standard reflex sight, like the ACOG- by default, the sight is zeroed to the rifle. When in Launcher mode, which is activated by pressing the Setting button on the launcher, the sight re-zeroes itself to adjust for the ballistic arc of the grenade. The sight has an integrated laser rangefinder for finding the range to a target. In the system’s Dumbfire mode, the rangefinder shows the best angle to fire the grenade at for the most accurate impact, lighting up a green LED inside and on top of the sight to show the proper angle is acquired. In Airburst mode, the rangefinder’s results are used to program the fuze in the grenade. All results are displayed on a liquid crystal screen inside the weapon. The sight also has integrated night vision, which can be toggled. The sight is powered by an advanced solar-charged battery, which is attached to the bottom of the sight, and also holds the rail mount system and wireless receiver. The battery holds a charge for about 24 hours. The sight also comes with a flip-out manual iron sight, as a back-up if the battery dies.
The launcher module is a single-shot, breech-loading 40mm grenade launcher based off the M320 launcher. It is longer than the M320, and is designed to hold the 40x48mm rounds designed for the system; however, it can fit and fire almost any 40x46mm grenade. The launcher holds the device that programs the fuze in the smart rounds in Airburst mode, and also holds the button that activates the laser rangefinder, and the switch for switching the sight between the Rifle and Launcher settings. The Setting switch and safety are ambidexterous, and the rangefinder button can be activated with the thumb on either hand, making the system convenient for left- and right-handed shooters. The barrel can also be rotated, allowing the breech to open on either the left or right side. The wireless receiver and 9v battery are held inside the pistol grip, and the launcher has a tiny laser reader that can determine what type of round is being fired, based on an indentation on the back of the casing. Because the rounds are low-pressure, the launcher makes very little noise when firing.
The computer is the most important module in the entire system- without it, the system wouldn’t be a “smart” weapon. The computer is very small, roughly the size of a medium-sized book, and weighs roughly four pounds. It can be clipped onto a uniform or body armor, or slipped into a backpack. It communicates between the other two components wirelessly via a very small transmitter, and is powered via a solar-charged battery with a life of 24 hours. The computer receives and interprets data from the sight, and then sends it back to the sight for aim adjustments. In Airburst mode, it also sends data to the launcher for programming the fuze. The computer also holds ballistic data on multiple types of rounds, which it can use to determine how the grenade will fly. Sensors on the computer can determine the temperature, wind speed and direction and air humidity of the enviroment around it, and use this to modify the targeting data. Upon receiving the data from the sight, it can come up with a very accurate target profile within half a second, and then show where the weapon should be aimed for maximum impact or proper detonation.
The sight and launcher are designed to be mounted on either a Picatinny or Weaver rail, but modifications were developed to allow them to be mounted on weapons that don’t. An attachment for a folding buttstock and pistol grip has also been developed, allowing the two to be clipped together as a stand-alone weapon.
Munitions
The M-360 is capable of firing any 40x46mm grenade, but it has several special rounds that were developed specifically for it. Unless otherwise stated, all rounds have Airburst capability.
HELLION
The standard-issue round for the M-360, the HELLION is a High-Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) grenade that combines the concussive force of an HE grenade with the lethal cloud of shrapnel of a fragmentation grenade. The round can be fired in impact-detonation mode or airburst mode, in which it will explode in mid-air, increasing it’s effectiveness.
iM203 Theovulcan
The Theovulcan is unique in that it is not an original round developed for the system, but an adaptation of a previously existing round, the UGMF’s iM203 incendiary grenade. The Theovulcan is simply the airburst version of the iM203, and was developed after a study showed that the iM203 is most effective when detonated a few feet away from the target, in the air. This allows maximum dispersal of it’s advanced napalm-like incendiary adhesive, which ignites once the round explodes. It also produces a blinding white light, thanks to phosphorous compounds which burn bright. The round burns hot- as in, 2,500 degrees Celsius hot, capable of melting through steel, thanks to it’s solid fuel, which has a high oxygen content and is also loaded with thermite.
XM-2 Fuel Air Burst Round (FABR)
FABR is a thermobaric, or fuel air explosive, grenade designed killing enemies hidden inside structures, bunkers and caverns. It uses the same explosive mix used in modern bunker buster bombs, but in a much smaller package. Upon detonation, it releases a shockwave which is amplified by the walls of the area it is detonated in- the denser the walls, the higher the amplification. It's airburst capability further enhances the blast wave- by detonating the grenade in the middle of a room, the blast wave will have time to reverberate off all of the walls, doubling it's power. It can also be used in open areas, but it's effectiveness is reduced in doing so.
M577, M578
Like the Theovulcan, the M577 is an adaptation of an existing round, the M576A1. The M577 is essentially a 40mm shotgun round, loaded with thirty #4 tactical buckshot pellets. The round does not have an airburst capability, because it is little more than an over-sized shotgun shell. However, it is devastatingly powerful in close-quarters combat.
The M578 is an M577 round with armor-piercing flechettes instead of buckshot.
FS14 Adhesive Irritant Round (AIR)
The FS14 AIR is a less-than-lethal round designed specifically for the M-360. When it explodes, it throws off an adhesive that reacts with oxygen, giving off fumes with a similar effect to CS tear gas. The grenade can only be used in airburst mode, and can shower multiple targets with the adhesive, making it useful for small groups, but less effective against crowds.
eXtended Range Electromuscular Projectile- Snare (XREP-S)
further development of the XREP shotgun Taser shell, the XREP-S is a combination of a net gun and a Taser, combined into a package that fits into a 40mm grenade. The round consists of a plastic casing surrounding a steel wire net, with an attached XREP round. The round leaves the barrel, then detonates to push the casing away, spread the net out and activate the XREP. The net tangles itself around the target, delivering a non-lethal electric shock for approximately twenty seconds. The round is self-contained, wireless, and the detonation distance can be set to double the range of the weapon (in dumb mode, the round detonates half a second after leaving the launcher). This makes it useful for incapacitating a fleeing suspect- the net not only knocks them down, but "tases" them, keeping them from moving until the shooter can approach them.
F8 Infrared Flare
A specialized flare developed for the weapon. Two seconds after firing, the flare gives off infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. However, with IR imaging equipment, the flare causes even the darkest area to become bright as day. The flare lasts for about sixty seconds, and stays in the air via parachute.
Eagle Eye
Perhaps the most unique round for the M-360, Eagle Eye is essentially a camera with a 360 degree view, inside a 40mm grenade. When launched, the round activates the camera, and deploys a parachute to slow it’s descent. The images from the camera are streamed directly to any AEGIS user within one mile of the round, showing up on their HUD. The round has only a small charge, which detonates when the camera lands; it’s sole purpose is to destroy the round. The round is cheaper and smaller than hand-held UAVs, and can be deployed almost anywhere.
Future Developments
As the weapon is still somewhat experimental, plans for new developments are being made in Darkstar’s R&D department. Currently, plans are being made for an option to “slave” the M-360’s computer to the AEGIS armor’s helmet and integrate the sight into the helmet, eliminating the need for the sight on the weapon. Future developments may completely integrate the computer into the helmet, meaning that only the launcher would need to be mounted.
Plans for a dedicated, stand-alone version of the M-360 are in the works. The idea is to create a “smart” version of the M32 MGL by integrating the sight into the weapon, allowing the six-round grenade launcher to fire smart munitions.
Because of the amount of electronics in the weapon, the development team is currently developing anti-EMP countermeasures that will be integrated into the weapon. This will allow the weapon to be used in areas with high residual electromagnetic energy, or in the vicinity of an EMP blast.
New munitions are constantly being developed for the weapon, and more advanced rounds may replace the ones already in service.
Discuss.
