A new anti-drone round designed for 5.56mm rifles was tested by soldiers at Oak Grove Training Center near Fort Bragg as part of a broader push to address small unmanned aerial systems at close range.
The effort reflects a growing focus on kinetic countermeasures that can be employed without changing standard weapon systems.
Defence Blog first reported the test, noting that soldiers were photographed last week at the Oak Grove facility testing the 5.56mm L-variant Drone Round.
The training was meant to “enhance readiness” for taking on small uncrewed aerial systems at close range, according to the accompanying captions and photographs.
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The exercise included firing at small quadcopters, the kind increasingly used by modern forces for reconnaissance and other tasks.
In images posted to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, at least one drone was blown apart by the soldiers, billowing smoke after crashing to the ground.
According to the manufacturer, the round gives troops the ability to fight drones without any modifications to their weapons, enabling small units to counter swarms of drones that have proven difficult to defend against.
The technology aims to complement other defensive measures and to provide a layered approach to countering threats from aerial systems.
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Each round fires from a rifle like a standard 5.56mm munition, but mid-flight it breaks into multiple pieces, similar to buckshot. This fragmentation is intended to increase the likelihood of striking fast-moving, small targets at short to moderate ranges.
The result is a broader spray pattern that can neutralize drones that might outrun or evade traditional line-of-sight fire.
This approach is described as the last line of defense in a layered protection system against small unmanned aircraft systems, according to the Army’s captions for the photos.
The emphasis on a near-field solution highlights the need for rapid, reliable responses in environments where drones can present immediate risk to personnel and equipment.
The development of anti-drone ammunition has roots in the rapid evolution of drone tactics witnessed during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Early efforts ranged from improvised defences to more specialized weapons, including rounds designed specifically to engage drones without requiring complex electronic countermeasures.
The expansion of these efforts continues as new adversaries deploy increasingly capable unmanned aircraft.
While electronic jamming can disrupt some drone systems, not all drones are affected equally by electromagnetic interference.
In some cases, purely kinetic solutions offer a reliable alternative, particularly when line-of-sight and distance limit the effectiveness of other methods.
Shotguns and other weapons with broad profiles can help, but limited ranges have often constrained their utility in field operations.
he tested round, compatible with weapons carrying the 5.56mm caliber, could broaden engagement envelopes for ground forces.
The Army, along with several other services, is expanding its use of drones to enhance both offensive and defensive operations. Efforts to integrate unmanned systems into tactics are ongoing across multiple commands and branches, reflecting a shift toward leveraging drone capabilities while also defending against them.
The current testing at Oak Grove fits into a larger framework of evaluating practical, field-ready tools.
A multi-service drone task force, JIATF-401, has been examining a variety of defenses, from ground-based lasers to new ammunition for aircraft that operate in a manner similar to the rounds tested at Oak Grove.
The goal is to establish a cohesive set of counter-drone capabilities that can be deployed across different theaters and circumstances. The results from these trials will influence how troops prepare for potential drone threats in the coming years.
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