CTG, 5.56MM, All Types

The CTG, 5.56MM, All Types program is a critical component of the Army's ammunition procurement portfolio, supporting both operational and training requirements for small and medium caliber ammunition. This line item, managed under Appropriation 2034A (Procurement of Ammunition, Army), is designed to ensure the availability of various 5.56mm cartridges for use in standard Army rifles and machine guns, such as the M16A2/A4, M4/M4A1 Carbines, and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The budget request supports the procurement of a large quantity of cartridges, ensuring readiness for Title 10 war reserve, operational, training, and test requirements as outlined in DoD Instruction 3000.04 and Army Regulation 5-13.

The objective of the line for 5.56mm Blank, M200, Single Round is to provide blank ammunition for training and ceremonial purposes. The M200 blank cartridge is used with blank firing attachments in M16/M4 series rifles and is not intended for combat. The request supports the procurement of a significant quantity of rounds, supporting annual training and maintaining depot levels to meet Army goals. Production is split between Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) and a second source facility in Oxford, MS, ensuring minimum sustaining rates and industrial base health.

The line for 5.56mm Blank, M200 Linked for SAW funds blank ammunition linked with M27 links for use in the M249 SAW during training exercises. The budget supports procurement of a substantial number of rounds, enabling realistic training environments for machine gun crews. The linked blanks are essential for simulating combat conditions and maintaining proficiency with crew-served weapons.

Lines for 5.56mm 4 Ball EPR, M855A1 / 1 TR M856A1 Linked and 5.56mm Tracer, M856A1 Single Round procure enhanced performance rounds (EPR) and tracer cartridges for both training and combat. The M855A1 ball cartridge features a steel penetrator and a non-lead slug, while the M856A1 and XM1201 tracers provide visible signatures out to 900 meters. The request supports procurement of both linked ball/tracer rounds and single tracer rounds, supporting annual training and war reserve inventories. The inclusion of lead-free components aligns with environmental and health initiatives.

Lines for 5.56mm EPR Ball, M855A1 w/M27 Link for SAW, 5.56mm Ball, M855A1 EPR, Clipped Mil Pack, and 5.56mm Ball, M855A1 Clipped Bulk Pack focus on the procurement of standard and enhanced performance ball ammunition for use in rifles and machine guns. The budget supports procurement of linked rounds, clipped rounds, and bulk-packed rounds. These procurements are essential for meeting both training and combat ammunition requirements, as well as maintaining war reserve stocks.

Marking Cartridges (Blue and Red, M1042 and M1071) are used for force-on-force training, providing visible marks upon impact for after-action review. The blue and red marking rounds are compatible with standard rifles and the M249 SAW when equipped with conversion kits. The request supports procurement of blue rounds, red rounds, blue linked rounds, and red linked rounds. All marking rounds have transitioned to lead-free versions to support environmental objectives.

The line item for 5.56mm, Short Range Training, M1037, Single Round funds short-range training ammunition (SRTA), which is used in live-fire training scenarios with reduced surface danger zones, making it suitable for Military Operations/Urban Terrain (MOUT) environments. The request supports procurement of SRTA rounds, supporting specialized training needs while enhancing safety and flexibility in training area usage.