Israel-based IMI Systems has developed a new 5.56mm armour piercing match (APM) round to boost the capabilities of combat soldiers in the battlefield.
Currently being manufactured by the company, the new round combines the advantages of 5.56mm and 7.62mm rounds. The ammunition is being evaluated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
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The new round has been developed to address operational requirements of defence forces. The aim is to have a common ammunition that will maintain the benefits of the existing two calibres.
In a statement, an Israel expert said: “There is no better place to assess the new operational requirements. The IDF has been fighting in all possible combat scenarios, including some that the world is experiencing.”
Having been developed by IMI Systems’ Small Caliber Ammunition Division, the new 5.56mm APM round is based on IDF combat experience and operational requirements of the company’s international clients.
The ammunition is claimed to have enhanced accuracy and penetration capabilities, making it a suitable replacement option for the 7.62mm round.
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By GlobalDataCombat units will only need to carry one type of ammunition in the field, which can be used in a wide range of machine guns and rifles, including the M16.
Extensive ballistic testing demonstrated the APM round to be 30% more accurate than the 7.62mm M80 at a range of 550m. It has a projectile weight of 4.7g and cartridge weight of 12.9g.
