MODERNIZATION AND ENTERPRISE COLLABORATION


INCREMENTAL ADVANCES


Product Manager Medium Caliber Ammunition leads collaboration for countering drone threats by upgrading platforms’ armament systems.


by Kaitlyn Tani and Anthony Amoroso


exploiting small, fast, inexpensive drone—even a mass-produced hobby quadcopter can now be used to ascertain the position and size of a ground force—and small caliber ammunition can no longer keep up. Vehicles designed to carry Soldiers must maintain the ability to maneuver quickly across the battlefield. Larger caliber ammunition, while eminently effective, requires heavy weapon systems, which can limit speed and agility. Tus, medium caliber ammunition became the preferred means to counter the drone threat, and Product Manager Medium Caliber Ammunition (PM MC) is collabo- rating across the enterprise to provide enhanced capability.


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In response to a joint operational needs statement for counter-drone capability and a direct require- ment for self-defense, PM MC—under Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM MAS) and the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A)—has reacted with an urgent materiel release strategy to fulfill the requirements for self-defense and an ammuni- tion solution against drones. In collaboration with stakeholders, including PEO Missiles and Space and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), the 30x113 mm ammunition was selected as the caliber of choice to provide lethality while not increasing vehicle weight significantly.


SAME WEAPON, NEW USE For nearly four decades, the 30 mm M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) cartridge has been the tactical cartridge for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Fired from an M230 chain gun at 625 rounds per minute, it provides a storm of air-to-ground fire. As the name implies, it also provides dual capability—lethality against ground enemy personnel targets and the ability to penetrate armored


https://asc.ar my.mil 49


s air threats like unmanned aerial systems (UAS) proliferate on the battlefield, the need for self-defense armaments on military vehicles becomes imperative—but with persistent constraints on weight and size. Small caliber systems, such as the .50-caliber M2 machine gun, have been the traditional solution for carrier vehicles. But enemies are increasingly


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