Given the significant weight burden of weapons, ammunition, sustainment, protection, and mission command equipment that Warfighters carry, reducing Soldier load continues to be a top priority for the Army. The Product Manager for Small Caliber Ammunition (PdM SCA)—part of the Project Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM MAS) within the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A)—continues to support this priority through development and fielding of lightweight small-caliber ammunition. Prototype testing and experimentation with alternative materials such as polymer and steel are in progress to substitute ammunition cartridge components to reduce weight without degrading performance.
MAKING LIGHT WORK: Polymer-cased rounds like these used in a recent Marine Corps training exercise are 30% lighter than their brass counterparts, reducing the weight that Warfighters have to transport (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cameron Hermanet).
June 18, 2024 | Originally published by U.S. Army on June 6, 2024