Marines Seek Specialized Anti-Drone Rifle Rounds

The US Marine Corps aims to order new anti-drone 5.56x45mm ammunition for its M4 carbines and M27 rifles by the end of the year. The L Variant cartridge, produced by Drone Round, has a projectile that breaks into multiple segments to improve the probability of scoring a hit on a small, fast-moving aerial target. The idea is to give anyone with a rifle an immediate boost in their ability to defend against growing drone threats. Marine Corps Systems Command announced its intention to buy an unspecified number of 5.56x45mm L Variant cartridges through a sole-source contract with Drone Round. The L Variant rounds are designed to be used in existing guns without modification and can be fired from standard-issue rifles, making them a potential game-changer in the fight against small drones. The development of these specialized rounds is part of a broader trend of using multi-projectile small arms cartridges to counter drone threats.