The United States Marine Corps is pursuing the acquisition of next-generation 5.56x45mm ammunition designed for counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) defense on M4 and M27 rifle platforms. The L Variant ammunition, developed by Drone Round, features a specialized fragmenting core that separates into multiple pieces upon firing, increasing the probability of striking small, rapidly maneuvering aerial targets.

The Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) announced a single-source contract with Drone Round for an unspecified quantity of ammunition. The procurement agreement, scheduled for completion in December 2026, emphasizes in official documentation that the ammunition can be employed directly in M27 and M4 rifles without requiring any physical modifications or specialized components. This characteristic provides significant operational flexibility.

Drone Round offers the ammunition in two distinct variants. The L Variant features a core that fragments into five pieces, providing effective range of approximately 100 meters, while the K Variant fragments into eight pieces with an effective range of approximately 50 meters. Both types can be employed in existing weapons without modification and the company specifies that the ammunition is "fully automatic and suppressor-compatible."

This development addresses the growing threat posed by FPV (first-person view) kamikaze drones, which have become prevalent in the Ukraine conflict. These drones, characterized by low cost and effective deployment, are spreading globally and have become a significant threat factor on modern battlefields. Colonel Paul Gilikin of the Marine Corps emphasized this requirement, stating that "we need industry assistance regarding counter-UAS ammunition for our current weapon systems," underscoring the criticality of this capability.

The concept of multi-fragment ammunition is not new; the U.S. Army conducted extensive research on this principle during the 1950s and 1960s but did not field an operational product. Today, the escalating drone threat and the requirement for rapid response at the squad level have brought such solutions back into focus. Similar work is being conducted by Turkey's MKE. Development continues on 6.8x51mm variants for the U.S. Army's new M7 rifle platform.