Nammo’s 40 mm airburst and 155 mm artillery ammo have been developed using the most innovative technology, extensive knowledge and over a century of industry expertise for ultimate accuracy.
Advances in technology means that today’s battlefield is more dynamic than ever before. Weapon systems used must be up to the challenge, and able to adapt at a moment’s notice to counter any threat. Not only are these systems required to offer precision and power, but effectiveness and versatility too.
As a global leader in defence solutions, Nammo’s range of cutting-edge, specialist technologies are designed to overcome the progressively complex challenges of the modern combat environment. Its broad portfolio includes shoulder-launched munitions systems, military and sports ammunition, rocket motors for military and space applications, and demilitarization services.
The company’s investments and innovations have led to a range of globally significant technologies, offering superior innovations for current and future challenges.
Flexible and versatile
Nammo recognized that the conventional 40 mm ammo rounds — which have remained the same for more than 40 years — are not always enough on the modern battlefield, and that it was time for something new.
To introduce more capability to the round, Nammo was the first company to qualify airburst ammo for 40 mm automatic grenade launchers. The HEDP-RF (High Explosive Dual Purpose – Radio Frequency) round is the latest technology available for AGLs (automatic grenade launchers) like the Mk19 system, which provides users with the ability to defeat targets in an urban warfare scenario.
The Nammo 40 mm airburst solution is already in use in Canada and the U.S., where the ammunition’s functionality means that the airburst distance can be precisely programmed into the round. This makes the ammo ideal for targets in defilade, such as trenches, rooftops or inside buildings, and helps troops to neutralize the impact of enemy forces hiding behind obstacles, or otherwise avoiding direct fire. It has been successfully demonstrated taking out smaller unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and can also take out sensors on armoured vehicles, as well as penetrate light armoured vehicles.
For extra adaptability, the Nammo 40 mm airburst incorporates a wireless solution to program the ammunition, and it can be easily integrated with existing weapon platforms and fire control systems for added advantage. Nammo has also developed a standalone MPU (Manual Programming Unit) that enables airburst programming even without a fire control system.
Low dispersion at long range
Complementing the 40 mm airburst’s precision, Nammo’s 155 mm artillery has exceptional accuracy at long ranges. Thanks to Nammo’s long history of developing and manufacturing artillery ammunition, it combines insight with modern production methods to create shells with much more stringent tolerance levels than before.
Nammo has created six different types of 155 mm artillery shells, all designed to have the same external shape, weight and centre of gravity for uniform ballistics. The highly explosive shells are adapted for 40-kilometre distances when fired from modern L52 gun systems, and have low dispersion at long range to ensure an increased lethal effect on the target.
Additionally, the new shells are some of the most precise, agile and accurate shell bodies produced on the market — and with a total weight variation of less than 0.5 kilograms. Previously, the weight of the shell bodies manufactured could vary by up to several kilograms, leading to increased dispersions.
The practical impact of firing the 155 mm artillery is that shells with low-weight variation, in combination with state-of-the-art base bleed, can significantly reduce the dispersion in the target area — particularly when fired at long range.
Proven in practice
To test ammunition, it has to be fired. Designed to withstand the harsh climates of Nordic countries, Nammo products are capable of operating under extreme temperatures and even snow.
The 40 mm airburst has successfully completed several live demonstrations, including the Manual Programming Unit (MPU) world premiere in Sweden in 2015. Representatives from special operations forces across 20 countries commented on how impressed they were with the display, as well as the performance of the new, fully integrated products.
Subsequently, the 155 mm artillery has also reached several important test milestones: the first in 2014, when the TP-ER (Training Practice – Extended Range) and IM HE-ER (Insensitive Munition High Explosive – Extended Range) were launched by Archer at the Älvdalen firing range in Sweden; the second more recently in 2016, when the IM HE-ER and TP-ER were successfully fired more than 40 kilometres from the K-9 at the Ravlunda test range in Sweden.
Prepared for combat
When it comes to ammunition and defence solutions, precision, power and performance are key.
Nammo is constantly developing new products and technologies to give troops the best possible advantage during combat. This is exemplified by the 40 mm airburst and 155 mm artillery ammo — the optimum choice for success on the battlefield.
