Telescoped ammunition

Telescoped ammunition is an ammunition design in which the projectile is partially or completely enveloped by the propellant. Examples include ammunition for both hand weapons and artillery. Caseless ammunition is often telescoped.

Telescoped ammunition for the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) by CTA International
(right) 4.73×33mm telescoped and caseless ammunition, with cased ammunition for comparison

Telescoped ammunition has advantages in comparison with traditional ammunition cartridges. Telescoped ammunition cartridges can have reduced overall length with similar ballistics to a comparable mass traditional round. Also, telescopic cartridges may avoid the risk of damage to the projectile during the loading process, and may simplify and increase the reliability of magazines and other feed mechanisms.

Cased telescoped ammunition for the LSAT light machine gun has reached technology readiness level 7.[1] In August 2013, AAI Corporation was awarded a $US2.05 million contract to continue developing parts of the US LSAT program. Part of the contract is to further refine 5.56mm cased telescoped ammunition, and develop 7.62mm cased telescoped cartridges.[2]

References
  1. Cased telescoped ammo readiness level 7 - Militarytimes Gearscout.com, November 7, 2012
  2. AAI Awarded $2.05 Million Contract for Continued Lightweight Small Arms Technologies Development - AAICorp press release, 6 August 2013


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.