NEXT GENERATION SQUAD WEAPON AMMUNITION

The Next Generation Squad Weapon Ammunition (NGSW-A) program is a key Army modernization initiative designed to support the operational, training, and test requirements of the Army's new Next Generation Squad Weapons. The program's primary goal is to provide advanced 6.8mm ammunition types that enhance soldier lethality, meet war reserve needs, and enable effective training and testing in line with Department of Defense Instruction 3000.04 and Army Regulation 5-13. The NGSW-A program is aligned with the Army Transformation Initiative and supports the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team objectives.

The 6.8mm General Purpose Combat Round is the standard cartridge for both combat and training, featuring a steel penetrator and non-lead slug surrounded by a copper jacket. This round is intended for use against personnel and light-armored targets and is available in both carton and linked belt configurations for the NGSW Rifle and Automatic Rifle. Procurement supports annual training and building war reserve inventory. Production is managed by SIG SAUER, Inc. and Olin Winchester, LLC, with delivery schedules and quantities determined by vendor capacity and contract negotiations.

The 6.8mm Special Purpose 4SP/1TRCR Linked ammunition is a new start for FY 2026. This combat-only war reserve item utilizes projectiles with exposed tips for use against hard targets and includes tracer rounds for the NGSW Automatic Rifle. Production is handled by Olin Winchester, LLC at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, with a projected type classification date in the fourth quarter of FY 2026.

The 6.8mm Reduced Range Training Round is designed exclusively for training purposes, allowing for realistic practice on military installations with Surface Danger Zone restrictions. Funding supports procurement of cartridges, with production split between SIG SAUER, Inc. and Olin Winchester, LLC. This round is not used in combat and is intended to perform similarly to combat variants for effective training.

The 6.8mm Special Purpose Round and 6.8mm General Purpose 4GP/1TRCR Linked are both new starts in FY 2026, supporting war reserve and training needs. The Special Purpose Round focuses on hard target defeat in combat scenarios. The General Purpose 4GP/1TRCR Linked combines general purpose and tracer rounds for both combat and training. Both items are produced by Picatinny Arsenal and Olin Winchester, LLC, with type classification dates projected for FY 2025 and FY 2026.

The 6.8mm Reduced Range Training 4RRT/1TRCR Linked, 6.8mm General Purpose Linked, and 6.8mm Reduced Range Training Linked are training-unique items, not used in combat, and support annual training and depot level inventory. Production is managed by Olin Winchester, LLC and SIG SAUER, Inc., with vendor selection based on procurement quantities and delivery schedules.

The 6.8mm Blank Linked and 6.8mm Blank Round are intended for training only, mimicking the sound and function of combat ammunition without a projectile. Production is handled by SIG SAUER, Inc. The 6.8mm General Purpose Tracer Single Round supports both combat and training. All items in this line are classified as Code B, not yet approved for service use, and their procurement supports the Army's broader modernization and readiness objectives.