For newest 50mm XM913 Enhanced Bushmaster III automatic gun from Northrop Grumman, designed for installation on new XM30 IFV, U.S. Army seeks new ammunition maximally effective against drones.
Defense News publication drew attention to corresponding U.S. ground forces supplier search request. It provides for ammunition manufacturers submitting their proposals, which should include entire counter-drone architecture, ammunition integration into fire control system, as well as design, integration and testing readiness timelines.
Read more: russia Reportedly Halts Geran-3 Production, Scales Up Faster Geran-4 System
Among ammunition requirements is capability to effectively counter UAVs in very wide range from Group 1, covering smallest drones, to Group 3 — aircraft weighing over 600 kg. Meaning task is to make anti-aircraft artillery round capable of shooting down FPV drones and Shaheds.
Defense Express notes for XM913, first demonstrated back in 2019 and using 50x228mm rounds, universal ammunition already exists, developed specifically for it — XM1204 (HEAB-T). It has three detonation modes: contact, delayed and airburst, which is specifically effective against drones. Also separate round exists with only airburst — PABM.
At same time, analogous rounds but in other calibers are available from practically all Western medium-caliber ammunition manufacturers, which can quite implement analogous solutions in 50x228 round as well. For example, BAE Systems has serial Bofors 3P for Tridon Mk2, while Rheinmetall already actively produces KDG for Skyranger.
Also quite interesting in itself is concept of transforming XM30 IFV itself into anti-aircraft gun, which by its aerial target destruction capabilities will be quite close to specialized systems. At same time, besides 50mm gun itself, counter-drone capability should be provided by separate machine gun module, as well as active protection system, which should be expected on XM30. But creating separate specialized vehicle should not be dismissed either.
Recall XM30 project itself is currently at competitive stage between GDLS (General Dynamics Land Systems) proposal with Wolf created based on ASCOD and Rheinmetall with Lynx. By end of 2026 both companies should transfer their prototypes for testing, after which winner will be named.
Low-rate production of XM30 should begin in 2028 and overall by 2031 Pentagon wants to order 108 new IFVs.
Read more: India Wants Make 6th-gen Fighter FCAS with France, Which Will Finally Leave russia Behind
