Why Ammunition Is Crucial

The arson attack on the Swiss weapons manufacturer B&T in Thun on October 29, 2026 put the company in the international spotlight. This also brought the GL06 into focus, a 40-mm less-lethal launcher that became known primarily through its use by the French police.

In connection with the Yellow Vest protests, the use of the so-called LBD 40 was the subject of heated debate due to serious injuries. LBD 40 stands for Lanceur de Balles de Défense—the French designation for all 40-mm less-lethal systems, regardless of model or manufacturer. However, there is one key technical distinction: While France procured the GL06, it did not use the B&T Safe Impact Round (SIR), which was developed specifically for it.

The Importance of the Ammunition

B&T developed the SIR ammunition with a particular focus on accuracy and reproducible ballistic characteristics. According to the manufacturer, in internal comparative tests, the SIR cartridge outperformed the comparable products tested in terms of accuracy and consistency. The ability to reload the ammunition—that is, to reuse projectiles and casings multiple times—provides a cost-effective training option. In operational use, B&T recommends the use of factory-loaded SIR cartridges. This video provides a practical demonstration of the accuracy of B&T SIR ammunition:

The GL06 is generally designed to accommodate CIP-compliant ammunition from other manufacturers as well. However, this does not imply that different cartridges are equivalent in terms of accuracy, impact energy, and potential injury risks.

The selection and evaluation of ammunition, as well as the establishment of specific operational procedures, are the responsibility of the relevant authorities. According to its own statements, B&T is not involved in French evaluation and procurement decisions regarding ammunition from other manufacturers.

A Swiss Launcher with a History

Those who would like to learn more about the development of the GL06 can find an article by Ian McCollum on FORGOTTEN WEAPONS about the history of the system:

The key point remains: The characteristics of such a weapon result from the interaction between the launcher and the ammunition. A well-founded assessment of accuracy, effectiveness, and potential injury risks must therefore always take into account the specific cartridge used and the respective operational conditions. ALL INFOon the B&T GL06.

B&T online