M203 grenade launcher

Silhouette (Visual Identification)

M203 grenade launcher
Category Hand-held under-barrel and Mounted Grenade Launchers
Operating system Single shot, under-barrel, pump-action
Cartridge
Length 380 mm
Feeding breech-loaded

The M203 grenade launcher was intended to be used as close fire support for point and group area targets. The round is designed to be effective at penetrating windows, blowing up doors, producing casualties in groups of enemies, destroying bunkers, and damaging or disabling soft-skinned vehicles. Its primary purpose is to engage enemies in dead space that cannot be reached by direct fire. A well-trained M203 gunner can also use his weapon to suppress the enemy, both from movement and sight. M203 were also produced in Egypt, South Korea and Bulgaria (as UBGL-M1, with mount suitable for Kalashnikov AKM and AK-74 type rifles).

Global distribution map

Weapon prevalence origin Country of origin licensed Licensed production unauthorized Production without a license
X
Scale dependend aggregation of production sites

The M203 grenade launcher is found in 69 countries

This map is a reflection of data on global distribution and production provided primarily by the BwVC. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.


Global distribution list

The data on global distribution and production is provided primarily by the BwVC, but also from national and regional focal points on SALW control; data published by think tanks, international organizations and experts; and/or data provided by individual researchers on SALW. It is not exhaustive. If you would like to add to or amend the data, please click here.

Origin Country of origin
Production Licensed production
Non-Licensed Production Production without a licence
G Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by Governmental agencies.
N Non-Government: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is held by non-Governmental armed groups.
U Unspecified: Sources indicate that this type of weapon is found in the country, but do not specify whether it is held by Governmental agencies or non-Governmental armed groups.

It is entirely possible to have a combination of tags beside each country. For example, if country X is tagged with a G and a U, it means that at least one source of data identifies Governmental agencies as holders of weapon type Y, and at least one other source confirms the presence of the weapon in country X without specifying who holds it.

Afghanistan (AFG)
G
Albania (ALB)
G
G
Australia (AUS)
G
Austria (AUT)
O
G
Bahrain (BHR)
G
Bangladesh (BGD)
G
Belize (BLZ)
G
Brazil (BRA)
G
Brunei (BRN)
G
Bulgaria (BGR)
U
Cameroon (CMR)
G
Canada (CAN)
G
Colombia (COL)
G
Costa Rica (CRI)
G
Croatia (HRV)
G
G
Denmark (DNK)
G
G
Ecuador (ECU)
G
Egypt (EGY)
O
G
El Salvador (SLV)
G
G
France (FRA)
G
Gabon (GAB)
G
Georgia (GEO)
U
Greece (GRC)
G
Grenada (GRD)
G
Guatemala (GTM)
G
Honduras (HND)
G
India (IND)
G
Indonesia (IDN)
G
Iraq (IRQ)
G
Ireland (IRL)
G
Israel (ISR)
G
Italy (ITA)
G
Japan (JPN)
G
Jordan (JOR)
G
Kenya (KEN)
G
Kuwait (KWT)
G
Lebanon (LBN)
G
Liberia (LBR)
G
Malaysia (MYS)
G
Mexico (MEX)
G
Morocco (MAR)
G
G
Nepal (NPL)
G
Netherlands (NLD)
G
New Zealand (NZL)
G
Oman (OMN)
G
Pakistan (PAK)
G
Panama (PAN)
G
Philippines (PHL)
G
Qatar (QAT)
G
Saint Lucia (LCA)
G
Saudi Arabia (SAU)
G
Singapore (SGP)
G
South Korea (KOR)
O
G
Sri Lanka (LKA)
G
Sweden (SWE)
G
Thailand (THA)
G
Timor-Leste (TLS)
G
Tonga (TON)
G
Turkey (TUR)
G
Uganda (UGA)
G
G
G
O
G
Yemen (YEM)
G

Visual Identification (Silhouette)

M203 grenade launcher (3)