Your Privacy Choices
The M992 40mm IR cartridge, 5.56mm M855A1 & M240L were all winners of this years Army Greatest Inventions competition. Most of you will be familiar with the M240L, the lightweight version of the 7.62mm M240, and the 5.56mm M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round, the new environment-friendly 5.56mm round, which I have blogged about many times in the past. I had not heard of the M992 40mm IR cartridge before.
The M992 is fired from regular 40mm grenade launchers. Unlike other 40mm parachute flare rounds, which illuminate the battlefield for both its users and opposing force, the M992 produces very little visible-light. Instead, it lights up the battlefield with IR-spectrum light, benefitting only those equipped with nightvision equipment.
I guess the downside of this round is that the bright IR light would make the ITPIAL infrared laser aiming systems harder to see.
[ Many thanks to Lance for emailing me the link. ]
