ST Engineering wins UK contract to supply 40 mm grenades for British Armed Forces

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a five-year contract worth £65.84 million ($87 million) to Singapore’s ST Engineering Advanced Material Engineering to supply nine variants of 40 mm high- and low-velocity grenades for the British Armed Forces, strengthening the Army’s stockpile of one of its most widely used infantry support munitions.

The contract, awarded through Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), covers the supply of nine different types of 40 mm grenades under a competitive procurement involving three bidders. 

The agreement is expected to run from July 2026 until July 2031 and includes an option for additional purchases during its lifetime.

The contract award notice was amended after DE&S clarified that ST Engineering Advanced Material Engineering Pte. Ltd. was the successful prime contractor. 

An earlier notice had incorrectly identified GTDS Europe B.V., which acts as the Singapore company’s authorised representative, as the winning supplier.

Although the Ministry of Defence has not disclosed the specific ammunition variants being procured, the tender sought both high-velocity (HV) and low-velocity (LV) 40 mm grenade families used across different weapon systems in British service.

Why 40 mm grenades matter to British Army firepower

The 40 mm grenade has been a staple of NATO ground forces for decades, bridging the gap between rifle fire and mortar support.

High-velocity rounds are typically fired from automatic grenade machine guns such as the Heckler & Koch GMG, a weapon used extensively by the British Army on tripod mounts and vehicle platforms, including the Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) Land Rover. 

The system combines the sustained rate of fire of a heavy machine gun with the fragmentation effect of mortar ammunition, allowing troops to engage enemy infantry, field positions and lightly armoured vehicles at ranges beyond those achievable with conventional rifles.

Low-velocity grenades, by contrast, are fired from individual grenade launchers carried by infantry soldiers. They provide small units with an organic indirect-fire capability for engaging troops in cover, fortified positions and lightly protected vehicles while limiting collateral damage.

Modern 40 mm ammunition is available in numerous configurations, including high-explosive dual-purpose, smoke, illumination, practice and less-lethal rounds, enabling commanders to tailor firepower to different operational requirements.

Ammunition stockpiles return to the defence agenda

The latest award comes as armed forces continue to place renewed emphasis on maintaining ammunition stockpiles following lessons from recent conflicts, where artillery shells, rockets and infantry munitions have been consumed at far higher rates than previously anticipated.

For the British Army, 40 mm grenades remain an important part of infantry firepower, providing mobile units with rapid, accurate explosive support during both mounted and dismounted operations. 

The new contract ensures the continued availability of those capabilities over the next five years while allowing the Ministry of Defence to procure additional quantities should operational requirements increase.