The M203 is an American underbarrel grenade launcher developed by the AAI Corporation from the Colt XM148 Grenade Launcher, which can fire a wide variety of 40mm grenades (though its mechanical limitations mean it can only fire Low Velocity (LV) rounds). It began mass production in the late 1960s as a result of the Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) program and is seldom seen outside of American special forces teams. Some M203s have mysteriously made their way to Oceanyka, coveted as more practical alternatives to rifle grenades by local gunmen. It is currently considered the pinacle of American grenade launcher technology.