Electronic weapons can become quite sophisticated. However, sometimes advances come simply by enabling bullets to go straighter. That is the goal of True Velocity and its lightweight 6.8-mm ammunition. The company recently delivered 170,000 rounds of its TVCM cartridges with a unique composite case (see the figure). It is designed to provide outstanding ballistic performance without having to guide excess weight.
“As a team, True Velocity is excited and proud to have delivered this significant order of next-generation ammunition to the Army in-full and on-time,” said True Velocity president Chris Tedford. “Our 6.8-mm TVCM composite-cased cartridge is capable of unprecedented ballistic performance, while simultaneously exceeding the Army’s expectations in terms of weight reduction.”
The U.S. Army selected the novel ammunition in August 2019 as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) modernization program. The 6.8-mm composite-cased cartridge was submitted as a weapons system candidate in partnership with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems and Beretta, the firearms manufacturer. In contrast to conventional metal-hybrid or brass munitions cases, the composite cases yield a significant reduction in cartridge weight with increased weapons range and accuracy, regardless of the firearm in use.
Tedford explains: “It turns out that you don’t have to operate at unsafe chamber pressures to generate increased velocity, enhanced terminal performance, and improved accuracy. Our cartridge achieves all of these things, while maintaining safe operating pressures and drastically reducing the overall cartridge weight.” The new cartridges are being developed for the NGSW program to provide the Army’s Close Combat Force with an enhanced 6.8-mm cartridge replacement for currently fielded 5.56 × 45 mm rounds.