R & D

Ammunition R & D Programs US LWAP (Lightweight Ammunition Program):

February 2005, the US Advanced Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) rolled out the Lightweight Ammunition Program initiative

http://www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2006/Army/0602623A.pdf

http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2005smallarms/wednesday/spiegel.pdf

The focus of this $37.9 million LWA program included the evaluation of 5.56mm polymer, aluminum, and hybrid cased ammunition concepts to achieve 20% ammunition weight reduction.

Caseless Technology has surpassed their current goals by achieving a 50% reduction in weight and approximately 40% reduction in volume.

UCC caseless ammunition can be produced at approximately half the cost of manufacturing conventional small caliber ammunition.

It is the only product with fully combusatible semiconductive Electrical-Primer

Usel Caseless Cartridge (UCC), is an environmentally friendly proprietary propellant that is fired by innovative electronics. The two rounds, as illustrated on the bottom left and bottom right, have no brass casing. They are 56% lighter and take up 37% less volume and are approximately 50% less costly to manufacture as typical NATO M855 rounds.

The round in the middle is a conventional NATO M855 round. Notice the larger size and heavier weight. Upon firing these brass casings are left scattered everywhere and have to be later collected for recycling. Caseless Ammunition on the other hand, is environmentally friendly and leaves absolutely no casings behind.