U.S. Army planning to buy more fifth-generation tank cartridges

The U.S. Army is planning to place an order for the production of the fifth-generation Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot with Tracer (APFSDS-T) cartridges specifically modeled for the 120mm main gun on the Abrams main battle tanks.

The Army Contracting Command intends to issue a sole source request for proposal for the production of the M829A4 APFSDS-T cartridges, according to recent notice at U.S. government’s main contracting website.

The new advanced tank cartridge is similar to previous models but has a relocated skive joint placement for better crew-member safety during handling.

The 120mm M829A4 cartridge is the follow on to the M829A3 APFSDS-T cartridge. The M829A4 is the most effective anti-armor kinetic energy cartridge round fired from the M256 120mm smoothbore cannon mounted on the Abrams Main Battle Tank.

The M829A4 is a tank cartridge that improves upon existing kinetic energy tank cartridges by utilizing a depleted uranium penetrator and other design enhancements to provide superior lethality for the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams.

The cartridge incorporates advancements in propulsion, using a temperature insensitive propellant, novel penetrator design, and an advanced composite sabot. The projectile system consists of a Depleted Uranium Penetrator mated to a drag reducing windshield and flight stabilizing multi-bladed fin, all secured for launch with a composite sabot.

In Army Contracting Command’s notice also added that this is a pre-solicitation notice and the Government anticipates that a formal solicitation will be issued on or about 15 May 2019.

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