Direct Fire Technology

FY2027 planned work FY 2027 request will support finalizing development efforts for polymer lightweight case .50 Caliber variant, finish testing and finalizing field documentation. FY 2027 request will support an interim metallic solution development effort while developing the lightweight case polymer solution for the 7.62mm ammunition variant. FY 2027 will fund the preparation of fielding documents for the interim metallic solution and fund user evaluation development testing for both polymer and metallic solutions. FY 2027 will also fund 7.62mm polymer production qualification projectile build and the polymer production qualification testing (PQT). FY 2027 will support 6.8mm steel case technology. FY 2027…

FY2026 to FY2027 change Increase due to 7.62mm polymer projectile qualification build and funding the production qualification test (PQT) while still supporting finalizing the .50 cal lightweight solution and the interim 7.62mm metallic solution. FY 2027 will also begin efforts to address day time performance with OWL ammunition.

FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 request supports development efforts for polymer lightweight case .50 Caliber variant, conduct qualification test, and prepare fielding documentation. FY 2026 request supports an interim metallic solution development effort while developing the polymer case solution for lightweight case 7.62mm ammunition variant. FY 2026 conduct Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) impact study and procure qualification sample. FY 2026 supports 6.8mm steel case technology.

FY2025 accomplishments FY 2025 request supports development efforts for lightweight case .50 Caliber variant, continue material assessment, continue finalizing design, procure qualification sample, conduct qualification test. FY 2025 request supports an interim metallic solution development effort while developing the polymer case solution for lightweight case 7.62mm ammunition variant. FY 2025 will down-select to a single metallic solution, test polymer data, perform polymer aging study and material analysis, and conduct Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) impact study.

FY2027 planned work FY 2027 funding will support continuing various 20mm, 30mm, 40mm ammunition improvement efforts, such as investigating safety, performance, reliability issues, and reducing barrel wear. Develop and demonstrate methods for increasing range, increasing system effectiveness through velocity correction, and improving point detonation sensitivity of the XM1166 cartridge. Develop, demonstrate and qualify an improved 40mm Smoke munition, including assessing current formulations compliance with environmental regulations and evaluating producibility of 40mm smoke munitions. Assess the potential to include a capability to obscure heat and Infra-Red (IR) signatures. Continue leveraging proximity…

FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 funding supports continuing various 20mm, 30mm, 40mm ammunition improvement efforts, such as investigating safety, performance, reliability issues, and reducing barrel wear. Develop and demonstrate methods for increasing range, increasing system effectiveness through velocity correction, and improving point detonation sensitivity of the XM1166 cartridge. Develop, demonstrate and qualify an improved 40mm Smoke munition, including assessing current formulations compliance with environmental regulations and evaluating producibility of 40mm smoke munitions. Assess the potential to include a capability to obscure heat and Infra-Red (IR) signatures. Continue leveraging proximity…

FY2025 accomplishments FY 2025 funding supports continuing various 20mm, 30mm, 40mm ammunition improvement efforts, such as investigating safety, performance, reliability issues, and reducing barrel wear. Develop and demonstrate methods for increasing range, increasing system effectiveness through velocity correction, and improving point detonation sensitivity of the XM1166 cartridge. Develop, demonstrate and qualify an improved 40mm Smoke munition, including assessing current formulations compliance with environmental regulations and evaluating producibility of 40mm smoke munitions. Assess the potential to include a capability to obscure heat and Infra-Red (IR) signatures.

FY2027 planned work FY 2027 funding will support continuing various 105mm and 120mm tank ammunition improvement efforts, including tracer improvements, combustible cartridge case design and fabrication improvements, and continuing efforts to assess the 105mm Advanced Multipurpose (AMP) and 120mm AMP training cartridge/solution. Evaluate 105mm candidate cartridges, perform warhead lethality studies, modeling and simulation, conduct fuze assessment studies, perform propulsion system evaluation, assess fabrication improvements, and perform integration and testing of tank cartridges.

FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 funding supports continuing various 105mm and 120mm tank ammunition improvement efforts, including tracer improvements, combustible cartridge case design and fabrication improvements, and continuing efforts to assess the 105mm Advanced Multipurpose (AMP) and 120mm AMP training cartridge/solution. Evaluate 105mm candidate cartridges, perform warhead lethality studies, modeling and simulation, conduct fuze assessment studies, perform propulsion system evaluation, assess fabrication improvements, and perform integration and testing of tank cartridges.

FY2025 accomplishments FY 2025 funding supports continuing various 105mm and 120mm tank ammunition improvement efforts, including tracer improvements, combustible cartridge case design and fabrication improvements, and continuing efforts to assess the 105mm Advanced Multipurpose (AMP) and 120mm AMP training cartridge/solution. Evaluate 105mm candidate cartridges, perform warhead lethality studies, modeling and simulation, conduct fuze assessment studies, perform propulsion system evaluation, assess fabrication improvements, and perform integration and testing of tank cartridges.