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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY98 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The M995 is a 5.56-mm Armor Piercing (AP) cartridge that provides an AP capability for the M16A2 rifle, the M4 carbine, and the Squad Automatic Weapon. The M993 is a 7.62-mm AP cartridge, which provides an AP capability for the M60 machine gun and the M24 sniper rifle. These cartridges were designed to augment the fielded version of the ammunition (M855 and M80), which employ a soft lead (termed "ball") projectile. The M993 and M995 were initiated in 1992 as part of the Soldier Enhancement Program, and intended to give the soldier an added capability against armored threat vehicles. This capability will support the precision engagement and dominant maneuver force aspects of Joint Vision 2010 by replacing the "ball" projectiles with AP projectiles.

Due to their funding thresholds, the M995 and M993 AP cartridges were not required to undergo operational test oversight from this office. However, these systems do qualify for LFT&E oversight.

DOT&E activity for these programs involved LFT&E only. Formal OT oversight was not required. DOT&E approved the combined LFT&E strategy for these two programs in November 1996, and the detailed test plan was approved in December 1996. Previous DT of these two cartridges focused on shots against simple range targets- not against an actual threat vehicle. By combining Joint Live Fire assets, namely a BRDM-2 armored personnel carrier, with the Army's funded LFT&E program, a credible full-up systems-level lethality live fire program was made possible.

The LFT&E program was conducted in accordance with the approved LFT&E strategy from November 1996-April 1997. In particular, the Army conducted dedicated live fire tests involving approximately 100 M995/M993 shots against the BRDM-2 armored personnel carrier in April 1997. The armor perforation capability and the potential for crew incapacitation from behind armor effects were assessed. All testing has been completed and the Army's report to DOT&E has also been completed. The completed OSD report was delivered to the four Congressional Defense committees in April 1998.

The M995 and M993 AP cartridges are required to have better penetration capability than the standard M855 and M80 ball rounds, especially improved capability to penetrate lightly armored vehicles at extended ranges. The primary intent of the new projectiles is to improve incapacitation against troops within lightly armored vehicles. The test data indicate that the M995 and M993 meet these requirements and will be effective in a realistic combat environment.