Five years of intensive work, advanced technologies and ambitious goal setting – this is what it took to create the Sapphire light multipurpose grenade launcher system. Today, it is a real gem in the collection of the Belarusian military industrial sector and a symbol of new approach to combat conduct. The name was not selected randomly: each new specimen is a real jewel in its niche.
Advanced manufacturing technologies
A unique technology of composite material winding is used to create the system. The lightweight casing structure houses an increased amount of explosive to enhance the power of the ammunition manyfold.
Tactical and technical characteristics
• Caliber: 61 mm,
• Weight: 5 kg,
• Sighting range: 300 m,
• Maximum firing range: 800 m,
• Direct fire range: 120 m,
• An electronically programmable fuse,
• Trajectory detonation,
• Clustering,
• Two warhead types: high-explosive fragmentation squash-type, hollow-charge fragmentation.
Versatility of damage
The system is fitted with warheads of two types to make it a “double-power” weapon:
• the high-explosive fragmentation squash-type warhead breaks through 200 mm thick ferrous concrete or 300 mm thick brick.
• the hollow-charge fragmentation warhead penetrates through 200 mm thick steel armour and up to 800 mm thick brick walls. It is a perfect solution to destroy shelters, armoured vehicles and manpower.
Both warhead types are fitted with a fragmentation unit: the kill radius is 7 m with 2nd class body armour.
Intelligence and fire density
Sapphire is a restart of customary tactics:
• smart detonation: a programmable fuse with contact and trajectory modes to hit targets hidden behind obstacles and in shelters.
• cluster salvo: the possibility to fire “a package” of up to 20 grenades at once or in a sequence, combining ammunition types.
Focus on robotization
The product can be easily integrated into modern systems: from combat modules to unmanned aerial vehicles and robotized fire systems.
The Sapphire system was put into service in December 2024 and has been launched into serial production.
Оfficial source: https://www.vpk.gov.by/news