Cartridges

The Cartridges (LI 352010) program is a key component of the Air Force's ammunition procurement budget, supporting both combat and training requirements for a wide range of weapon systems. The primary goal of this line item is to ensure that the Air Force maintains sufficient quantities of service-ready cartridges for active, reserve, and guard components. This enables effective homeland defense, overseas operations, and military support to civil authorities. The program is managed in coordination with the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition (SMCA) at the Department of the Army, with additional engineering support from the Navy for select items.

Medium Caliber Ammo is a major subcategory within this line item, encompassing procurement of 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm cartridges for aircraft gun systems such as the M61 on F-15, F-16, and F-22, GAU-8/A on A-10, and GAU-22/A on F-35A. Specific objectives include replenishing War Reserve Materiel (WRM) stockpiles, supporting pilot training, and ensuring readiness for combat operations. Notable rounds include the 20MM PGU-28A/B high explosive incendiary (HEI) for combat, 20MM PGU-27A/B for training, 25MM PGU-23/U for target practice, and 30MM PGU-13D/B HEI for use against light armor and personnel. The procurement strategy is justified by current inventory levels, which in several cases are below established objectives, necessitating continued acquisitions to meet operational needs.

Combat and Urban Mixes for the A-10's GAU-8 cannon are also addressed, with the Combat Mix (two armor piercing incendiary rounds and one HEI round) serving as the primary ammunition for combat missions, and the Urban Mix (two HEI and one target practice round) providing a lower collateral damage option for urban environments. The program aims to bring supportability for Combat Mix to 93% by FY27, while Urban Mix supportability is currently at 61%. Linked variants of 30MM PGU-15 and PGU-13 rounds are procured for the AC-130 Gunship to support Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) training and proficiency. SOCOM is responsible for the necessary ammunition links.

Small Caliber/Ground Munitions form another critical segment, including 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 9mm, .22 caliber, and 12 gauge cartridges for use in rifles, machine guns, pistols, and shotguns. Objectives for these munitions focus on providing reliable ammunition for personnel training, force-on-force exercises, and operational readiness against unarmored targets. Environmentally friendly options such as frangible rounds are prioritized for training to reduce lead exposure and facilitate recycling. The Air Force procures these items through SMCA, with some specialized rounds sourced from the Navy.

New Start Programs within the Cartridges line item include the 40MM M918/M385A1 mixed cartridges, 5.56MM blank SAW linked, 9MM blank close combat XM11, and 40MM HEDP cartridges. These initiatives are designed to address evolving training and operational requirements, ensuring that Air Force personnel have access to the latest ammunition types for realistic training and mission execution. The program also includes items with annual procurement values below a certain threshold, which are necessary for both domestic emergency response and support to civil authorities.

The funding justification for this line item is based on the need to address critical shortfalls in inventory objectives, support annual training allocations, and maintain WRM stockpiles for contingency operations. Funding includes support for overseas operations costs, reflecting ongoing support for deployed forces. The budget request was reduced for Advisory and Assistance Services in alignment with government efficiency initiatives. Price fluctuations are managed through contracts with the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and are influenced by economic factors, material costs, and procurement volumes across the Department of Defense.