SAAT Project: Europe’s Answer to New 6.8 Ammunition from United States.

On January 6, 2025, the Belgian company FN Herstal announced the official launch of the Small Arms Ammunition Technologies (SAAT) project, a four-year pan-European initiative aimed at establishing common standards for small arms ammunition. Coordinated by FN Herstal, this project brings together major defense industry players, research organizations, and the defense ministries of nine European countries, with the primary objective of strengthening Europe’s interoperability and strategic autonomy in defense.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Photo of the US NGSW project, which will certainly compete with the European SAAT project. (Picture source: US DoD)

The project officially began during a kick-off meeting held at FN Herstal’s headquarters in mid-December 2024. Representatives from the nine participating countries—Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland—gathered to define the governance structure and lay the groundwork for this collaboration.

The SAAT project’s agenda focuses mainly on defining requirements for small arms ammunition in the face of current and future threats. By examining cutting-edge technologies in projectiles, propellants, cartridge cases, and their interaction with weapon systems, the consortium aims to develop an optimized projectile prototype. In addition, SAAT seeks to refine ammunition component technologies to enhance the performance and effectiveness for European armed forces.

With a budget of EUR 8.3 million, the SAAT project brings together 18 European partners, including major manufacturers, SMEs, research institutes, and national defense bodies. The industrial participants include Beretta (Italy), CZUB (Czech Republic), Eurenco (Belgium and Sweden), Fiocchi Munizioni (Italy), FN Herstal (Belgium, project coordinator), Mesko (Poland), Nammo (Norway and Sweden), Nobel Sport (France), and Swiss P Defence (Switzerland).

Regarding research organizations, the consortium includes Armasuisse (Switzerland), DGA Techniques Terrestres (France), FFI (Norway), FOI (Sweden), the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, TNO (the Netherlands), and Poland’s Military University of Technology. Each one brings high-level expertise, illustrating Europe’s collective commitment to advancing small-arms ammunition technologies.

In a press release, FN Herstal emphasized the “diverse partnership” underpinning the SAAT project, showcasing the strong commitment of European nations to innovate and collaborate in the domain of small arms and their ammunition.

Meanwhile, Jonas Granberg, in charge of the “Ammunition Technology” branch at the European Defence Agency (EDA), hailed the kick-off meeting as “the first step in an ambitious journey toward developing innovative ammunition for Europe’s defense forces.” He added, “By bringing together expertise from across Europe, SAAT will provide practical, effective, and forward-looking solutions that address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.”

Beyond the European dimension of the SAAT project, an American program to develop a new 6.8 mm cartridge is attracting attention. This ammunition, developed under the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program, also aims to increase range, lethality, and accuracy compared to traditional calibers (5.56 mm and 7.62 mm). Like the SAAT project, American research emphasizes modernizing projectiles and propellants to boost the overall effectiveness of combat forces.

However, whereas the American program focuses on national deployment within the United States, SAAT seeks to establish a common standard among various European countries, thereby promoting greater interoperability and shared technological sovereignty within the European Union and its partners. The two ammunitions will compete within NATO forces, so this is something to watch closely.

As the SAAT project develops over the next four years, it is expected to profoundly shape the future of small arms ammunition in Europe. By unifying standards and driving technological innovation, this program is fully aligned with a broader strategy aimed at strengthening both interoperability and Europe’s strategic independence in defense.