The U.S. military has long complained about the penetration capabilities of 5.56 mm ammunition, and now the Navy and the Corps are looking to remedy the issue with a new barrier-penetrating 5.56 round.
On Nov. 20, the DoD announced a $41,181,315 contract award to Federal Cartridge Co. for 5.56 ammunition that can defeat some barriers like auto windshields and doors.
UPI reported that the new round, known as the MK 318 MOD 0 round, was tested by the Corps following complaints about the standard 5.56 ammunition.
Before lawmakers in March, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley complained that the standard 5.56 mm round had trouble penetrating some forms of body armor.
“The 5.56 round, we recognize there is a type of body armor it does not penetrate, and adversarial states are selling that stuff on the Internet for about 250 bucks,” Milley said.
Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.
