US Army orders lightweight M141 Bunker Buster.

The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command has given $135 million in orders of lightweight “Bunker Buster” weapon systems.

The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM), or SMAW-D ("Disposable"), is a single-shot, shoulder-launched weapon designed to defeat hardened structures (Picture source: Nammo AS)

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced on 25 September that Nammo Talley Inc. was awarded a $135 million contract for the production of the Bunker Defeat Munition, XM808 Subcaliber Trainer, and the Field Handling Trainer. According to DoD’s statement, all work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 24, 2021.

The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM), or SMAW-D ("Disposable"), is a single-shot, shoulder-launched weapon designed to defeat hardened structures. The weapon was designed as a modification of the USMC Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) to fill the void in the United States Army inventory of a "bunker buster" weapon. Lightweight and rugged, the BDM is airdrop certified and single soldier transportable. The high explosive dual purpose (HEDP) rocket has a devastating impact on enemy targets. Penetrating concrete structures, light armored vehicles, fortified caves and urban construction. The HEDP rocket detonates immediately upon impact of hard targets while the built-in fuze delay allows for deeper penetration before detonation when hitting soft targets. The BDM launcher includes a mounting bracket for quick attachment and removal of sights such as the AN/PVS-4 night sight, AN/PAQ-4 or AN/PEQ-2 laser aiming lights or similar devices with rail grabber attachment.