Denel Y3 AGL The Denel Y3 AGL is a South African - manufactured automatic grenade launcher currently manufactured by Denel Land Systems . Originally developed by Aram Ltd as the AS88 as a support weapon for infantry , the patent rights were purchased and modified by Vektor , which later became a division of Denel Ltd . Further enhancements included rate of fire upgrade and the addition of a ballistics computer , with final qualification testing taking place in 1998 , and operational testing in 2002 . The Y3 was launched during the 2003 United Kingdom Defense Systems & Equipment ( DSEi ) International Exhibition . Design details . Operating mechanism and features . The launcher fires 40x53mm high velocity , medium trajectory calibre grenades at a rate of 425 rounds per minute , which may be reduced to 360 rounds per minute ( by changing the muzzle booster cup position ) in order to conserve ammunition . Operating via the long - recoil principle , the Y3 fires from an open breech ( minimising the opportunity for grenade cook - off within the magazine ) when in counter - recoil . Whilst all moving assemblies are buffered to reduce recoil and vibration , the unit lacks a conventional feed - lever mechanism . The feed direction and ammunition box mountings may be changed in - field without additional components , and are also able to be dual - loaded : enabling selection of two different types of 40mm rounds on the fly . Although able to be vehicle - mounted using a bracket system , the launcher may also be utilised with a ground - mount tripod : thereby affording stability and in - field mobility . Manned by a team of three operators , the AGL is normally fired using a manual trigger and spade grips which can be replaced with a firing solenoid for vehicular mounting . Due to its low recoil force and lightweight breech block , it is also the only cannon - type weapon compatible with light - weight flying platforms . Electronic sight . Due to the parabolic trajectory path of the 40mm grenades used , it is possible to utilise the Y3 against a target that is out of the user ' s direct sight ( such as over cover or obstacles , or around corners ; up to an elevation of 60 degrees ) . This indirect fire mode is , however , only realistically feasible during combat situations if the co - ordinates of its target are already known ( for instance , calculated from a forward observation post ) ; as otherwise the unit acts as a ( relatively lower area damage ) mortar . The linked electronic ballistic computer [ known as the ' LobSight ' ] can also be used to reinforce this ' electronic ' sight line . By calculating the position , direction and angle required for the AGL to hit a given target , the LobSight greatly assists aim modification : providing optimum grenade impact and ammunition usage . If this data is unknown , the AGL may still be used to lay down suppressive fire against possible enemy locations but , again , at a reduced accuracy unless a laser sight or aiming scope is added . Ammunition . The 40mm Y3 AGL can fire a wide range of " high velocity " 40×53mm 40mm grenade s linked in belts of 20 or 32 . The 40×53mm type grenade is also used by other automatic grenade launchers such as the Mk 19 and Mk 47 Striker and are more powerful than the 40×46mm round used in hand - held launchers . Accessories . A transport case , weapon and sight harness , ammunition harness and tripod , cradle and toolkit harness are supplied with the weapon ; along with a toolkit , aiming light and post . Further customisation via tactical and covert accessories may also be retrofitted .