עברית
IDF to field fragmenting 5.56 ammo to fight Hezbollah's explosive drones
Fragmenting 5.56 rounds for M-16 and "Tavor" rifles, each with five steel pellets, are set to arrive from the U.S. next week. KAN News reported they are designed to expand the hit radius against drones by about 30 meters and have "proven themselves" in the Russia-Ukraine war; after successful U.S. trials, the IDF Ground Forces ordered hundreds of thousands of boxes. Hezbollah drones in southern Lebanon have killed five IDF soldiers and a civilian Defense Ministry employee so far.
A Hezbollah drone that crashed near an IDF unit (Photo: per Section 7(a))The IDF is set to receive special ammunition from the U.S. next week for use in southern Lebanon, aimed at countering Hezbollah's explosive drones. According to a report today (Tuesday) by KAN News, these are fragmenting 5.56-caliber rounds compatible with M-16 and "Tavor" assault rifles used by IDF troops.
According to the report, the rounds contain five steel pellets intended to expand the hit radius against drones by about 30 meters. It was reported that the fragmenting rounds "have proven themselves" on the battlefield in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
A delegation from the IDF Ground Forces traveled to the U.S. in recent days to conduct weapons tests. Following the successful trials, the Ground Forces commander instructed the purchase of hundreds of thousands of boxes of ammunition from the U.S., which are expected to arrive in Israel next week.
The specialized rounds will join other measures designed to counter drones, including nets that have been deployed over buildings and military vehicles.
So far, during the current ground maneuver in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah drones have killed five IDF soldiers and a civilian Defense Ministry employee.
