Denel Y3 AGL

The Denel Y3 AGL is a South African-manufactured automatic grenade launcher currently manufactured by Denel Land Systems. Originally developed by Aram Ltd as the AS88 as a support weapon for infantry, the patent rights were purchased and modified by Vektor, which later became a division of Denel Ltd. Further enhancements included rate of fire upgrade and the addition of a ballistics computer, with final qualification testing taking place in 1998, and operational testing in 2002. The Y3 was launched during the 2003 United Kingdom Defense Systems & Equipment (DSEi) International Exhibition.

Operating mechanism and features
The launcher fires 40x53mm high velocity, medium trajectory calibre grenades at a rate of 425 rounds per minute, which may be reduced to 360 rounds per minute (by changing the muzzle booster cup position) in order to conserve ammunition. Operating via the long-recoil principle, the Y3 fires from an open breech (minimising the opportunity for grenade cook-off within the magazine) when in counter-recoil. Whilst all moving assemblies are buffered to reduce recoil and vibration, the unit lacks a conventional feed-lever mechanism. The feed direction and ammunition box mountings may be changed in-field without additional components, and are also able to be dual-loaded: enabling selection of two different types of 40mm rounds on the fly.

Although able to be vehicle-mounted using a bracket system, the launcher may also be utilised with a ground-mount tripod: thereby affording stability and in-field mobility. Manned by a team of three operators, the AGL is normally fired using a manual trigger and spade grips which can be replaced with a firing solenoid for vehicular mounting. Due to its low recoil force and lightweight breech block, it is also the only cannon-type weapon compatible with light-weight flying platforms.

Functional description

 * The belt-linked grenades are fed out of the magazine, through pawls(activated via the barrel's movement, together with a cam within the feed slide) and into position above the barrel


 * From this position, breech extractors clip onto the base of the grenade cartridge, then extracting the grenade from the belt when the breech moves backwards


 * The grenade is then pushed downwards, aligning with the barrel via another cam


 * After firing, empty cartridge cases are ejected through an opening at the bottom of the AGL

Electronic sight
Due to the parabolic trajectory path of the 40mm grenades used, it is possible to utilise the Y3 against a target that is out of the user's direct sight (such as over cover or obstacles, or around corners; up to an elevation of 60 degrees). This indirect fire mode is, however, only realistically feasible during combat situations if the co-ordinates of its target are already known (for instance, calculated from a forward observation post); as otherwise the unit acts as a (relatively lower area damage) mortar. The linked electronic ballistic computer [known as the 'LobSight'] can also be used to reinforce this 'electronic' sight line. By calculating the position, direction and angle required for the AGL to hit a given target, the LobSight greatly assists aim modification: providing optimum grenade impact and ammunition usage. If this data is unknown, the AGL may still be used to lay down suppressive fire against possible enemy locations but, again, at a reduced accuracy unless a laser sight or aiming scope is added.

Ammunition
The 40mm Y3 AGL can fire a wide range of "high velocity" 40×53mm 40mm grenades linked in belts of 20 or 32. The 40×53mm type grenade is also used by other automatic grenade launchers such as the Mk 19 and Mk 47 Striker and are more powerful than the 40×46mm round used in hand-held launchers.


 * High Explosive (HE) Grenades
 * Designed primarily for use against vehicles and personnel (with a casualty radius of 5m)


 * High Explosive; Dual Purpose (HEDP) Grenades
 * Whilst this round has some armour-piercing capability (penetrating cleanly through 50mm of armour plating, or 350mm of concrete), it is mainly designed for use against armoured vehicles and fortifications.


 * Practice (P) Grenades
 * This grenade, whilst not 'live', produces a flash and smoke on firing; intended for realistic simulations and training.


 * Target Practice Tracer (TPT) Grenade
 * Although similar to the Practice round, this round also produces a visible light trail similar to other tracer ammunition.


 * Target Practice (TP) Grenade
 * This round is inert, although possessing the same ballistic properties as the HE and HEDP rounds. Also utilised during simulated exercises.

Tactical Applications

 * Offensive
 * Fire support for infantry and armour
 * Enemy troop/convoy ambush
 * Suppressive fire support for landing assault forces
 * Tactical operation behind enemy lines
 * Overhead firing at high trajectory (~45-60 degrees elevation) to provide cover fire or mortar shelling
 * Spec-Ops or covert subterfuge


 * Defensive
 * Fire support for infantry and armour
 * Convoy protection
 * Base/bunker defense
 * Protection of runways, anti-aircraft batteries and other airforce facilities, as well as harbours and naval facilities
 * Armoured vehicle outfitting
 * Anti-personnel mortar shelling on approach

Accessories
A transport case, weapon and sight harness, ammunition harness and tripod, cradle and toolkit harness are supplied with the weapon; along with a toolkit, aiming light and post. Further customisation via tactical and covert accessories may also be retrofitted.

Similar weaponry

 * HK GMG: the most similar (currently in operation) weapon to the Y3 AGL; AGL
 * XM174 grenade launcher: similar weapon; (S-)AGL
 * AGS-17, similar weapon, but possessing a smaller (30mm) calibre; (S-)AGL
 * Milkor MGL, another South African-manufactured (40mm), but hand-held with a revolver action, MGL
 * Mk 19 grenade launcher, similar weapon; (FS-)AGL