Weapons and Munitions - Eng Dev

The Battalion Mortar System Modernization project supports the development of modernized Mortar Weapon Systems to support Mobile Brigade Combat Teams (MBCTs), Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs), Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs), and Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs). Efforts include development and qualification of modernized mortar systems and their required components to include fire control and ammunition that will increase range, lethality, survivability, mobility and readiness. The weapon and fire control will be used as a standalone man-portable system with digital fire control capability or as a modular system that can be hosted onto light tactical vehicles such as the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) and/or Joint Lightweight Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) when a mobility kit is utilized. This modernized system will increase survivability, maneuverability, and provide tactical advantage to the Warfighter when matched with pacing threat for direct and indirect fire and will provide overmatching capabilities. Initial characterization efforts will establish a firm foundation for proposed advanced indirect fire systems while allowing for incremental improvements and updates as technologies continue to mature, which will maintain and enhance performance, improve lethality, responsiveness, and reliability of indirect fire systems across the required spectrum of military operations. Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding will support the design and development of a next generation mobile mortar weapons, fire control systems, and mobility kits that can be hosted on tactical vehicles.

The 155mm Artillery Propulsion Modernization (System Demonstration) project develops and qualifies advanced propulsion systems, to include propelling charge, modular charge, ignition systems, propellant, and packaging solutions in support of the Army's Field artillery modernization objectives. Novel propulsion technologies will be matured and tested into the propelling charges and ignition systems to advance and innovate artillery firing performance and enhance manufacturability of the industrial base. Solutions will be integrated into a system of systems capability to ensure interoperability, closing fires capability gaps to destroy or neutralize artillery targets out to 70 kilometers. Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding will support system demonstration and integration with down selected Mobile Tactical Cannon (MTC), verify performance of propelling charge and ignition systems, and evaluate integration with handling and stowage systems.

The Anti-Personnel and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) munitions provide increased lethality through proximity airburst effects against personnel, small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and small boats without requiring modification to the platform. Airburst capability is identified as a threshold Key System Attribute (KSA) in Apache Block 3 Capability Production Document (CPD) - Approved 14 June 2017, and counter-UAS capability is identified in other cannon caliber Operational Need Statements (ONSs) and Capability Development Documents (CDDs). Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funds support prototype builds and Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) for both the 30x113mm Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) munition and the 25mm Bradley Aerial Defeat Ground Enhanced Round (BADGER) munition.

The Small Caliber Ammo for Next Gen Squad Weapons project is a critical technology development in response to the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (SL CFT) Initial Capability Document (ICD) for the ammunition required to support the rapid prototyping, development, and fielding of the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) authority for rapid prototyping/rapid fielding. The objective is to develop and Full Materiel Release (FMR) the new 6.8mm ammunition in parallel with the NGSW rifle and automatic rifle. The 6.8mm ammunition is split into multiple ammunition variants, the General Purpose (GP), the Special Purpose (SP), the Reduced Range Ammunition (RRA), Tracer Ammunition, Blank Ammunition, the Close Combat Mission Capability Kit (CCMCK) training ammunition, Drill Dummy Inert (DDI) cartridge, and High-Pressure Test (HPT) cartridge. FY 2027 funding will support SP Complex Target Terminal Characterization (CTTC), SP Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E), Full Material Release (FMR), Persistent Design Optimization, develop prototypes for Limited Lethality Assessment, and CCMCK developmental tests. FY 2027 funding will also support Initiation of detailed design activities for a facility that enables prototyping of new concepts for the Persistent Design Optimization effort as well as activities for transition from Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) to Major Capability Acquisition (MCA). The total cost of the Small Caliber Ammo for Next Gen Squad Weapons Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $156.7M million RDTE from FY 2020 to FY 2028.

50x228 millimeter (mm) family of ammunition is a critical technology development in response to the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) Abbreviated Capability Development Document for weapon qualification, platform integration, and fielding of the XM30 Combat Vehicle primary weapon system (XM913). This effort includes the development of three capabilities: The XM1202 Target Practice with Tracer (TP-T); the XM1203 Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot with Tracer (APFSDS-T); and the XM1204 High Explosive Airburst with Trace (HEAB-T). The training cartridge will allow the Warfighter to train in a cost-effective manner and the tactical cartridges will provide enhanced lethality at increased ranges when engaging personnel threats in the open, defilade, and under the cover of urban structures, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) teams, and current and projected future peer armored materiel threats. This effort is operating under Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) authority for rapid prototyping to qualify the three munitions in order to support the NGCV Cross Functional Team (CFT) timeline for First Unit Equipped (FUE). Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding supports Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E), Milestone documentation, Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) and preparation activities for prototype fielding. The total cost of the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition (NGCV) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $122.610 million RDT&E from FY2021 to FY2025. The program is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).

The 155 millimeter (mm) High Explosive (HE) Rocket Assisted Projectile Extended Range project supports the Army's Field Artillery modernization objectives. This venture develops an innovative rocket design with a lethal warhead that is compatible with unguided and guided fuzes to meet extended range and accuracy requirements. The Next Generation Rocket Assisted Projectile (NGRAP) development effort will first deliver a solution to increase ranges from 30km to 40km in current 39 caliber systems and will also improve accuracy, lethality, and ranges utilizing 39 caliber and extended range cannons. Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding will support critical verification testing and qualification activities required to achieve Critical Design Review (CDR).

30mm Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst (MMPA) Maneuver Short Range Air Defense Increment 3 (M-SHORAD INC 3): The 30mm MMPA M-SHORAD INC 3 / Project DC9 funds the development of the 30mm XM1223 MMPA munition and respective weapon contact setter under the Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) authority for rapid prototyping. The objective is to enhance the operational effectiveness of the M-SHORAD Inc 3 platform, Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS) and any other Joint Force platforms that are equipped with a 30mm weapon system and have a Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) mission. The programmable fuze modes in the munition include proximity airburst to defeat personnel in the open and small Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) targets, proximity airburst delay to defeat personnel in defilade, gated proximity airburst to minimize collateral damage in cluttered environments, mechanical point detonate to defeat light materiel targets, and self-destruct to minimize collateral damage. The XM1223 will allow the platforms to conduct counter-UAS missions while retaining the ability to quickly transition to ground targets without having to swap ammunition. FY 2027 funds support conducting Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E), Operational Assessment, and Milestone C preparation. The total cost of the MMPA Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) effort is $54.4 million RDT&E from FY24 to FY28. The remainder of the MMPA MTA is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program.

The Precision Munition (Sniper) project is a critical technology development in response to the Precision Munition Capabilities Development Documents (CDD) for the ammunition required to support the Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) / sniper weapons systems. The objective is to transfer the latest lethality technology into the suite of ammunition used by snipers. The Precision Munition improvement is split into three capability areas: Anti-Materiel (AM), Improved Performance Round (IPR), and Subsonic. The AM and IPR capabilities will enhance lethal effects at greater distances. The Subsonic capability will increase soldier survivability at close range by providing a low-sound signature munition that is undetectable to the enemy. FY 2027 will conclude both Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) activities and the Production Qualification Test (PQT) with the culmination of Milestone C.