Marines to get new anti-drone round for M4 and M27 rifles
Source: Task & Purpose
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Marines will get a new type of ammunition that can be fired from their M4 carbines and M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles and is designed to help them shoot down small drones, a Marine Corps acquisition spokesperson said.
The Drone Round 5.56 L Variant separates into five distinct projectiles after being fired to provide shooters with a better chance of hitting small drones, according to Drone Round, the company that makes the ammunition.
So far, the Marine Corps has bought 400,000 of the rounds, and it intends to purchase another 1 million cartridges in fiscal year 2027, which begins on Oct. 1, the spokesperson told Task & Purpose.
A Marine fires an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle during training to counter small drones at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, on July 17, 2026. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cody Fitzgerald.
The Marines have begun delivering the cartridges to ammunition supply points, said the spokesperson, who added that all the deliveries are expected to be completed in September.
Marine Expeditionary Force commanders will decide which units will receive the anti-drone round first, the spokesperson said.
The L Variant meets the Marine Corps’ requirement for a commercially available option that can disable or destroy smaller reconnaissance and attack drones, said the spokesperson, who added that the Marines tested the anti-drone round in several user evaluations before fielding the ammunition.
The War Zone reported in June that the Marine Corps had announced that it intended to buy the anti-drone round. Separately, soldiers with the 18th Airborne Corps tested the ammunition against small drones in April at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
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The L variant is a 5.56X46mm NATO round that is effective up to 100 meters, said Kirk Fernandez, the CEO of Drone Round. He added that the company plans to offer a 7.62mm variant of the round soon.
The round is designed to be fired from standard 5.56mm NATO weapons without requiring any modifications or specialized equipment, Fernandez told Task & Purpose. It loads into standard magazines and belt-fed systems and is also suppressor-compatible.
The ammunition was built specifically as an anti-drone cartridge that is meant to give shooters “a last line of defense against small drones using the rifle already in their hands,” Fernandez said. As such, it works against drones controlled by fiber optic cables that cannot be jammed.
“The projectiles stay together as they exit the barrel and disperse a few meters downrange,” Fernandez said. “This ensures the round is fully suppressor-safe while still opening into an effective pattern against aerial targets.”
The Marine Corps has launched a sweeping effort to counter the threat of drones, including establishing an attack drone team and other organizations to test new technologies and develop training to protect Marines on the battlefield. Corps officials have also fielded new weapons systems, such as the SMASH 2000L advanced fire control system, that Marines can use against small drones in combat.
The post Marines to get new anti-drone round for M4 and M27 rifles appeared first on Task & Purpose.
Classification
Region
North America
Analytical Domain
Operational
Primary Category / Secondary Categories
Weapons & Equipment / Military Operations
Subcategory
New Weapon System
SALUTE Report
Size
400,000 rounds purchased, 1 million rounds planned for FY 2027
Activity
Introduction of new anti-drone ammunition for M4 and M27 rifles
Location
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center · Twentynine Palms · California
Unit
U.S. Marine Corps
Time
Fiscal Year 2027, deliveries expected to complete by September 2026
Equipment
M4 carbineM27 Infantry Automatic Rifle5.56 L Variant ammunition
Summary
The U.S. Marine Corps is acquiring a new anti-drone round for M4 and M27 rifles, with 400,000 rounds already purchased and an additional 1 million planned for Fiscal Year 2027. Deliveries are expected to be completed by September 2026 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. This new ammunition is specifically designed to enhance the Marines' capability to counter small drones.
Key Facts
- Marines are acquiring a new anti-drone round for M4 and M27 rifles.
- 400,000 rounds have been purchased, with an additional 1 million planned for FY 2027.
- The ammunition is designed to counter small drones effectively.
- Deliveries of the new ammunition are expected to be completed by September 2026.
- The round is compatible with standard 5.56mm NATO weapons.