Anti-Drone 5.56mm Rifle Rounds That Break Into Multiple Projectiles Sought By Marines
Summary
The U.S. Marine Corps is moving to procure specialized anti-drone ammunition through a sole-source contract with a company called Drone Round, with the contract award projected for December 2026. The ammunition, known as the L Variant 5.56x45mm cartridge, features a projectile that splits into five segments upon firing, significantly increasing the probability of hitting small, fast-moving aerial targets such as FPV kamikaze drones. A key advantage of this round is its drop-in compatibility with existing Marine Corps weapons including the M4 and M27 rifles, requiring no physical modifications, specialized equipment, or additional training for soldiers. The Marine Corps justified the sole-source contract by stating this is the only commercially or militarily available kinetic munition meeting their minimum requirements for immediate counter-small drone defense. This procurement reflects a broader military trend, as similar multi-projectile anti-drone ammunition concepts are being explored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and even utilized by forces on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine.
Key Takeaways
- 1. The Drone Round L Variant cartridge splits into five segments to improve hit probability against small, maneuverable drones, while the K Variant splits into eight segments for shorter ranges
- 2. The ammunition requires zero weapon modifications or additional training, making it immediately deployable across existing Marine Corps rifle platforms
- 3. The Marine Corps justified a sole-source contract by declaring this the only available kinetic munition meeting their strict counter-drone capability requirements
- 4. Multi-projectile counter-drone ammunition is a growing global trend, with Russia, Ukraine, and multiple U.S. military branches all developing or fielding similar concepts
- 5. Future development includes 7.62x51mm and 6.8x51mm variants, potentially expanding compatibility to U.S. Army next-generation weapon systems like the M7 rifle and M250 machine gun