SMALL AMMO, BIG BENEFITS


compared with the same cartridges with brass cases.


SMALL CALIBER BUSINESS U.S. paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade engage targets with the M240 machine gun during a live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Rock Proof V at Pocek Range in Postonja, Slovenia, in October 2015. The exercise focused on small-unit tactics and building interoperability between allied forces. Building alliances and interoperability between small businesses and ammunition manufacturing standards could enable new technologies in small caliber ammunition. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Davide Dalla Massara)


Te difference between the traditional brass case and new polymer cases is more significant than just weight. To be as good as or better than brass, such polymer cases must interface with the weapon system in the same way that brass does. As such, the small business contractors must be aware of how, for example, an M240 machine gun functions and how it grips the ammu- nition. Tis understanding of the weapon helps the contractor in the design of their polymer case and can provide insight into key stress areas that can cause cracks or ruptures. However, small companies have encountered challenges in this regard as a result of their limited knowledge base and experience with the weapons and ammu- nition as a system.


agility and endurance. In post-combat surveys, Soldier load ranks among the top concerns of combat veterans. Emerg- ing light ammunition designs offer substantial reduction in combat load given the necessary R&D to develop the technology for military use. For example, replacing the current brass cases with lighter-weight materials would reduce the Soldier’s ammunition load by 20 to 30 percent.


Since 2013, the Project Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM MAS) has worked with small companies in developing the 7.62 mm Lightweight Small Caliber Ammunition. Efforts to reduce the weight of 7.62 mm ammu- nition are underway through a DOD Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC) initiative, a vehicle whereby small businesses partner with DOD to


44 Army AL&T Magazine January-March 2016


develop cutting-edge solutions. Trough DOTC, PM MAS and the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center are working with multiple small companies


to develop


lightweight polymer cartridge cases for 7.62 mm machine gun ammuni- tion. Although the small businesses have made improvements in lightweight car- tridges, the path has not been without its challenges.


Small companies are bringing innova- tive and novel solutions to many of the Army’s problems, including small caliber ammunition capability gaps, often tak- ing technology from another commercial industry application and applying it to ammunition to meet warfighter needs. Today, small businesses have been able to reduce the weight of 7.62 mm car- tridges by approximately 20 to 25 percent


THE PARTNER CHALLENGE Small companies provide a level of energy, focused subject matter expertise and innovation that is valuable to R&D efforts. Teir passion for analyzing prob- lems and defining solutions


is a great


asset to the Army. However, partnering with small businesses presents challenges that can affect government program schedules.


Although small companies maintain con- trol of their design and have the ability to make design changes quickly, unlike their large industry counterparts, they sometimes lack the resources to quickly test and evaluate the impact of the changes they make. Additionally, small companies that PM MAS has worked with in small caliber ammunition R&D tend to rely more heavily on subcontrac- tors for production. Teir reliance on subcontractors to implement their design changes and produce new test assets can increase build-test cycles, which in turn can result in schedule delays.


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