DSEI 2019: Four new FN Herstal cartridges unveiled.

Belgium-based FN Herstal, one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of small caliber weapons, showcases newly-developed small caliber ammunition at Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition in London, UK, from September 10 through to September 13.

(Picture source: FN Herstal)

Driven by military missions facing new threats and by recent trends such as environmental regulations, FN Herstal is introducing four new cartridges to its 5.56 and .50 calibers, delivering a still wider purpose-designed small caliber ammunition range.

FN PERMAX™ 5.56

5.56x45mm SS109 ammunition was originally designed by FN Herstal and adopted by NATO as the second official caliber in 1980. FN Herstal has now engineered the new FN PERMAX™ Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) 5.56x45mm cartridge so as to deliver superior performance in urban combat by passing through barriers such as windscreens, automobile bodywork, glazing or masonry to reach a protected target.

The new FN PERMAX™ 5.56 has excellent mass retention behind barriers, maintaining greater incapacitating effect.

Composed of a hardened steel penetrator and a brass body, the FN PERMAX™ 5.56 has been developed to meet and anticipate further environmental European and international legislations requiring use of lead-free ammunition

FN PROPASS™ 5.56

The new FN PROPASS™ Armor Piercing (AP) 5.56x45mm cartridge is a further addition to the FN® range of ammunition, and is ideally suited when the mission requires defeating hard targets using 5.56 caliber. Featuring a tungsten carbide core, the projectile perforates armored targets or level IV ballistic protection composed of metal or ceramic inserts.

Both FN PERMAX™ 5.56 and FN PROPASS™ 5.56 cartridges are compliant with NATO standards – therefore, compatible with all weapons chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO. These two newly-developed cartridges are qualified on FN Herstal weapons such as carbines and assault rifles (FN SCAR®-SC or FN SCAR®-L), and light machine guns (FN MINIMI® 5.56).

FN ARIA™ .50 RR
In the .50 cal ammunition line, FN Herstal has designed a reduced range cartridge that features a shorter travel distance limited to 3,500m.

Highly reliable without requiring re-zeroing or converted weapons, the FN ARIA™ .50 RR cartridge is dedicated to safe and effective training with .50 cal weapons on shooting ranges that are limited to the use of 7.62mm weapons. With a tracer version also available, the FN ARIA™ cartridge can be provided on belts (4 FN ARIA™ .50 RR + 1 FN ARIA™-T .50 RR-T) for realistic training.

The FN ARIA™ .50 RR cartridges are compatible with all weapons chambered in 12.7x99mm NATO cal (.50 cal), and are qualified on the FN® M2HB-QCB and the FN® M3  machine guns.

Alongside these new developments, FN Herstal proposes an extensive range of .50 cal rounds, including the multipurpose APEI (Armor Piercing Explosive Incendiary).

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(Picture source: FN Herstal)