M992 (40mm munition)

The M992 is a 40mm low pressure grenade, designed to be fired from man-portable grenade launchers, to provide infrared illumination.[1] Similar looking but slightly larger, grenades are designed to be fired by heavier automatic grenade launchers, mounted on vehicles or tripods.

The grenade is designed to be fired into the air.[2] When it gets to its maximum height it deploys a small parachute, and ignites an infrared pyrotechnic flare. The flare is designed to only provide useful illumination to people wearing night-vision googles.

The similar M583A1 is fired the same way, but illuminates in visible light.[2]

The flare will burn for at least 40 seconds.[2] If fired directly overhead it should reach an altitude of 500 feet (150 m) to 700 feet (210 m). The parachute slows its descent to 7 feet (2.1 m) per second.

References
  1. Cassandra Mainiero (2017-01-23). "Picatinny researchers develop safer, less expensive variation of infrared illuminant cartridge". US Army. Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Retrieved 2020-10-23. The 40mm M992 Infrared (IR) Illuminant Cartridge is a type of a pyrotechnic flare, but unlike the standard flare, the IR cartridge produces a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye yet can be seen through night-vision goggles.
  2. "40MM Infrared Illuminant Cartridge, M992". Dau.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
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