Keep the 5.56 round

8/9/2019 Keep the 5.56 round

1/30

Is there a problem with the lethalityof the 5.56 NATO caliber?

Per G. ArvidssonChairman

NATO Weapons & Sensors Working Group

Direct: +46-8-782 4181, Mobile: +46-70-682 6412E-mail: [email protected]


2/30

No!


3/30

Our Terms of Reference We are responsible for all issues related to

dismounted soldier's weapon systems. We have two main missions:

Exchange of information and lessons learned. Promote technical standardization.

STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail was

approved by the NAAG in May -09, and hasbeen sent out on a ratification request.


4/30

Two ways to incapacitate

1. Hit to the central nervous system. Immediate incapacitation regardless of caliber

or type of projectile!

2. Loss of blood pressure by massivebleeding.

Incapacitation can take time!


5/30

Small Arms Lethality GBR hosted a two day NATO Workshop on

Small Arms Lethality in February -09 at theDefence Academy of the United Kingdom in

Shrivenham. The conclusion was that shot placement is themost important parameter.

This is achieved through good and realistic

training.


6/30

New Swedish pop-up target

Original target Modified target

Sheetmetal

Sheet metal(w=120mm)

Cardboard


7/30

Two main problems with currentand future soldier systems

1.5VAAA

1.5VAA

3V123A

Weight Power supply

60kg!


8/30

NATO Rifle Calibers7.62 x 51

NATO5.56 x 45

NATO

STANAG 2310 4172Cartridge length (mm) 71.0 57.0Cartridge weight (g) 24.0 12.7

Bullet weight (g) 9.5 4.0Bullet diameter (mm) 7.82 5.70Muzzle velocity (m/s) 830 930Muzzle energy (J) 3270 1730Core material Lead Steel/Lead

Rifling twist 1/12(305 mm) 1/7(178 mm)Penetration of 3 mmsteel plate at (m)

800 1300

Penetration in RHA at

100m and 0 NATO ofAPHC projectile

18mm 12mm


9/30

Compared performance of NATO rounds


10/30

Development of 5.56mm SS109 round FNH developed a weapon family in the mid 70s

consisting of the FNC rifle and the Minimi LMG. To increase the range for the LMG a round that

could penetrate the NATO plate (3.5mm mildsteel) out to 600m was developed.

It had a dual core (steel tip and lead rear).

It was named SS109. It required a 1/9 rifling twist. There were no requirements to penetrate body

armor.


11/30

History of 5.56 NATO In 1970 NATO decided to try to standardize a common rifle

and a second rifle caliber. During 1977-1980 NATO therefore performed tests with

rifles and ammunition. The calibers tested were:

5.56mm rounds with increasedpenetration from BEL and USA.

GBR 4.85mm round. DEU 4.7mm caseless round.

No weapon could be agreed upon. The BEL SS109 round was found to

be the best, and was standardized asNATOs second rifle caliber in 1980.

USA5.56

XM777

GBR4.85

DEU4.7

BEL5.56

SS109


12/30

Benefits of 5.56 over 7.62 Equal lethality. Half the mass (12g 24g). Half the volume. Reduced recoil and signature (noise and

flash). Better penetration in thin metal plates.

Flatter trajectory and shorter ToF out to 700m Lighter weapons. Higher hit probability.


13/30

Swedish experience

In SWE we realized already back in the early 80s thatyou must train as you fight.

A dynamic shooting training was therefore introduced in

1985. There are three levels of Marksmanship badges that are

worn by soldiers and officers. When SWE introduced the 5.56 ak 5 rifle in 1986, the

score had to be increased because otherwise everybodyqualified as a Marksman.

The same thing happened when we introduced the ak 5Cwith its red-dot sight.

7.62 ak 4 (G3) 5.56 ak 5 (FNC) 5.56 ak 5C + sight


14/30

NATO Workshop onMarksmanship Training

Spain hosted a marksmanship training workshop inMarch -10.

The results showed that only a few nations teachshooting beyond 200-300m to ordinary infantrysoldiers.

Nations are using from 150 rounds during 28hengaging targets out to 200m up to 1000 roundsduring two weeks engaging targets out to 400m.

SWE and CAN requirement: Prone or kneelingposition, 3-5 rounds at 100m max dispersion 150mm.


15/30

Long range shooting It is very difficult to hit at longer range due to:

Shooters dispersion Moving targets

Unknown range Wind drift

Swedish units in ISAF rely on 12.7mm (.50 cal)machine guns for long range


16/30

Comparison between 5.56 and 7.62with equal barrel lengths (20=508mm)

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

5.567.62

20" barrel 0 50 100 150 200 250 3005.56 -76 13 69 89 68 0 -122

7.62 -76 26 89 109 80 0 -138

Range (m) T r a

j e c t o r y

( m m )

Rifles with optical sights. NATO standard air temperature (+15C).


17/30

Comparison between 5.56 with shortbarrel and 7.62 with long barrel

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

7.62 (20")5.56 (14.5")

Range (m) T r a

j e c t o r y

( m m

)

Rifles with optical sights. NATO standard air temperature (+15C).

20=508mm. 14.5=368mm.


18/30

Time of Flight

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

7.62 (20")5.56 (14.5")

Range (m)

T i m e o

f f l i g h

t ( s )

Rifles with optical sights. NATO standard air temperature (+15C).20=508mm. 14.5=368mm.


19/30

User priorities on SWE ak 5C

1 . MIL-STD1913 rail

2 . Barrelshortenedto 350mm

2 . Neweffectiveflash hider

5 . New shoulder stock,adjustable in length

6 . Hand guard, with fulllength MIL-STD 1913 railat 6 oclock, and 80mmrails at 9 and 3 oclock.

6 . Cut-outs for pressureswitches and cables onleft and right sides

7 . Newambidextrousselector lever

7 . Slimmer pistolgrip at a differentangle

8 . Automaticbolt catch

9. Foldableemergency iron sights

for ranges up to 300m

10 . Transparentplastic magazines

3 . Weight max 3.8kg.4 . MRBS >2000.


20/30

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

Projectile travel in the bore (mm)

P (MPa)t (ms)V (m/s)

0.20200

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.0

1.20

1.40

400

600

800

7.62mm inner ballistics

50% of V 0 within 80mm!


21/30

Barrel length / Muzzle velocity5.56 NATO Ball

700

750

800

850

900

950

200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550

V 4 ( m / s )

Barrel length (mm)

Length (mm) V 4 (m/s)210 723240 764270 796300 825

330 843

360 866

390 878420 892450 906480 915508 922

Length (inch) V 13 (fps)8,3 23729,4 2507

10,6 261211,8 270713,0 276614,2 284115,4 288116,5 292717,7 297218,9 300220,0 3025

Colt M16A2. NATO reference ammo. NATO standard ammo temperature (+21C).

Barrel length reduced by 59%MV only reduced by 21%


22/30

The effect of a long barrel is oftengreatly exaggerated

16mm

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

M16 (20")M4 (14.5")

Range (m)

T r a

j e c

t o r y

( m m

)

Rifles with optical sights. NATO standard air temperature (+15C).20=508mm. 14.5=368mm.


23/30

Striking velocity of 5.56 NATO Ball

0

100

200

300

400

500600

700

800

900

1000

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

M16 (20")M4 (14.5")

0 50 100 150 200 250 300M16 (20") 922 870 820 772 725 680 637

M4 (14.5") 870 820 772 725 680 637 595

Range (m)

S t r i k i n g v e

l o c i t y

( m / s )

Only a 50m difference!


24/30

Time of flight for 5.56 NATO Ball

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

M16 (20")M4 (14.5")

Range (m)

T i m e o

f f l i g

h t ( s )

Only a 2cm difference at 300m!


25/30


26/30

Error budget, kneeling, no stress

E r r o r

( m )

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

0 50m 100m 150m 200m 250m 300m

Error in range estimation (m)

Target lead for 1m/s (m)

Wind 2m/s (m)

Soldier kneeling (10cm / 100m)

Weapon & Ammo (5cm / 100m)


27/30

Error budget, standing, stress

E r r o r

( m )

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

0 50m 100m 150m 200m 250m 300m

Error in range estimation (m)

Target lead for 1m/s (m)

Wind 2m/s (m)

Soldier standing (50cm / 100m)

Weapon & Ammo (5cm / 100m)


28/30

Internet rumors Rumors about 5.56mm:

Ineffectiveness at long range Inconsistent wounding effect

Poor intermediate barrier penetration Ease of deflection

There are no official documents that 5.56mm hasfailed in any NATO Army.

Most NATO nations agree that the nextgeneration of small arms weapons will also usethe 5.56mm NATO caliber.


29/30

Summary There is no problem with the lethality of the 5.56

NATO caliber! Most NATO nations are confident with the

lethality of their 5.56 and 7.62 rounds! To increase small arms lethality, nations must

better train their soldiers! Soldiers must train as they fight! If nations want to engage targets at long range,

then it is not about rifle caliber, projectile orbarrel length, it is all about training!

Or use the 12.7mm (.50 cal) HMG


30/30

Questions?

Documents

Keep the 5.56 round