GP-25

The GP-25 is an under-barrel single-shot grenade launcher for the famous Kalashnikov rifle series. It is designed by the Sporting and Hunting Arms Central Design and Research Bureau (TsKIB SOO) of the Soviet Union and took 12 years for a finalized design (1966-1978). The GP-25 was later adopted by the Soviet Army in 1978 and saw first action in the Soviet-Afghan War in 1984. The GP-25 later was used by the Russian Ground Forces as the standard under-barrel grenade launcher in 1991 when the Soviet Army dissolved. The GP-25 is used by 10 countries (including Russia); mainly Eastern European and Asian. The GP-25 fires a 40 mm explosive round which is highly effective against infantry targets. The GP-25 uses the World War II-era German High-Low system to keep recoil forces low without a recoilless weapon back blast. The grenade launchers fire a series of special 40 mm grenades.