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By LAW and ORDER STAFF
ALS Technologies makes a wide variety of 12 gauge, 37/38mm and 40mm impact munitions, CS chemical agents, stun -distraction devices and OC delivery systems. Importantly, they Just introduced two new 37mm and 40mm single shot launchers.
ALS recently joined AMTEC, the US military contractor. AMTEC is one of two 40mm suppliers to the US Army. These munitions include the M1006 sponge projectile, M781 practice cartridge, M583A1 White Star parachute and the M433 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP). Sister companies produce medium caliber cartridge cases, M67 grenade and Claymore mines for the Department of Defense. As a result of the merger, ALS Technologies will soon be changing its name to AMTEC Less-Lethal Systems.
New 37mm and 40mm Launchers
The biggest news from ALS is their two new launchers. ALS teamed up with Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT) to design and build the launchers. LMT is the largest supplier of launchers to the US military. The new launchers in both calibers are single shot, break-action, breech-loading launchers. A number of things make these new ALS/LMT launchers noteworthy.
The first is their incredibly light weight. Available only through ALS, these are the lightest tactical launchers on the market. The frame and barrel are both machined from 7075 aircraft aluminum. This results in the total launcher weight of just 3.5 pounds - half the weight of traditional single-shot launchers.
Everything Is Familiar
The second noteworthy aspect of the ALS/LMT launchers is how easy to use the weapon system is. Everything about the launchers is immediately familiar. It is as if the launcher designer started from scratch and picked the best and most functional of everything from the world's gun parts bins. In fact, that is exactly what ALS' Dave DuBay did.
The Gen 2 collapsible stock is identical to the M4 patrol carbine. The stock can be adjusted to one of six lengths to accommodate officers of different statures, and operators with different amounts of' armor and LBV bulk. With the adjustable stock collapsed, the launchers have an overall length of less than two feet.
Loading the breech-action launcher is made simple by the ambidextrous barrel release. This dual release is very similar in fit, form and function to the world-class Perm Arms release.