Barrett Firearms Manufacturing has introduced its next-generation 30mm Precision Grenadier System (PGS), a semi-automatic grenade launcher engineered to give US Army infantry units superior firepower, adaptability, and counter-UAS capabilities on the modern battlefield. The PGS forms a crucial part of the Army’s Soldier Lethality initiative, which focuses on boosting dismounted combat effectiveness through precision-guided weapon systems.
Designed as a shoulder-fired 30mm cannon, the new Barrett PGS incorporates a fully integrated fire control system, advanced optics, and programmable ammunition to deliver precise strikes against enemy positions behind cover and hostile drones at short range. Barrett is also developing a vehicle-mounted version of the weapon to support mechanized units, extending the system’s reach across various mission profiles.
The PGS development roadmap is divided into three major configurations — Mod 0, Mod 1, and Mod 2 — each expanding on the weapon’s lethality and adaptability. The initial Mod 0, arriving in 2026, will debut with a disturbed-reticle targeting system, multiple ammunition options, and semi-automatic firing capability. The Mod 1 will follow with proximity-fused munitions and specialized anti-drone enhancements, while the Mod 2 will culminate in a fully integrated airburst capability designed for counter-defilade and precision engagement operations.
Barrett’s PGS serves as a next-generation replacement for legacy grenade launchers and builds on insights from the discontinued XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System. Unlike its predecessor, the PGS emphasizes ease of use, scalable design, and modular upgrades, ensuring that new technologies such as guidance aids, software updates, and advanced fuzes can be rapidly integrated after field trials at Picatinny Arsenal. By filling the capability gap between small arms and heavy support weapons, the PGS enhances squad-level firepower, allowing units to neutralize threats without external fire support.
