Supercavitating Ammunition
Supercavitating ammunition that functions better in the underwater environment has been developed recently by Defence & Security Group (DSG), a Norwegian company. The Multi-Environment Ammunition (MEA) series supercavitating rifle ammunition, developed and marketed by DSG, is anticipated to be useful for certain special operations, including underwater warfare. These include defensive applications such as diver protection, as well as offensive applications such as neutralization of enemy divers, VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure Operations), MIO (Maritime Interception Operations), GOPLATS (Gasoline and Oil Platforms) boarding operations, speedboat interdiction and neutralization, anti-submarine warfare, anti-torpedo operations, and certain counter-piracy operations.
The ballistic characteristics of MEA series ammunition allows the user to fire at an underwater target from above the water, an above-the-water target from below the surface, or from an underwater location at a target which is also underwater. This innovative ammunition allows the user to fire from above the surface into the water at a very low angle of incidence — in some cases as low as two degrees — without fear of ricochet. After entering the water, the bullet will continue its original trajectory. The user does however need to compensate for the refractive index of the water (roughly 1.333 for fresh water at 20 °C).
MEA series supercavitating ammunition is currently available in the following calibers:
- 5.56×45mm NATO (accurate range of 15 meters underwater)
- 7.62×51mm NATO (accurate range of 25 meters underwater)
- General Purpose
- Dual Core
- Armor Piercing
- 12.7x99mm NATO (.50 BMG, accurate range of 60 meters underwater)
- Super Sniper Tactical
- Dual Core
The unique underwater capabilities of MEA series supercavitating ammunition allow it to be used for Unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) applications. The armed UUVs can be used in both offensive and defensive underwater warfare operations. Using the .50 BMG supercavitating cartridge, an armed UUV can potentially destroy steel-hulled underwater objects from a distance of 60 meters, or could potentially hit a target 1,000 meters in the air from a location 5 meters below the surface.
Read more about this topic: Underwater Firearm