Federal Ammunition Lands $114M U.S. Army Contract

Federal Ammunition awarded a five-year, $114 million U.S. Army contract for 5.56 mm NATO training ammo

by
posted on September 15, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Federal5.56 1

Federal Ammunition was recently awarded the largest government contract in its 100-year history.

The five-year contract, valued at $114,813,500, is to produce the United States Army’s 5.56 mm NATO training ammo. The AA40 5.56 mm NATO frangible ammunition (Semi-Jacketed Frangible Cartridge, MK311 MOD 3) is used by the U.S. military branches in rifles and carbines chambered for this caliber for training. It is loaded with a 50-grain frangible bullet comprised of a non-toxic, copper and tungsten powder matrix in a gilding metal jacket. The frangible ammunition is designed to disintegrate into small fragments on impact, while the polymer compound round minimizes splash back and decreases ricochets, making it ideal for training applications.

The contract summary at defense.gov states that “work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of August 17, 2027.”

“This contract is historic,” said Jason Vanderbrink, the president of Federal Ammunition. “It is the largest government contract awarded to Federal in its 100-years of operation and speaks volumes to the trust the United States military has in our American workforce assembling the best products for our servicemen and servicewomen.”

“Successfully executing on the AA40 contract requires large scale production capabilities combined with stringent quality control measures,” said Erik Carlson, senior director of operations at Federal’s headquarters located in Anoka, Minnesota. “Awards of this magnitude are validation of Federal’s committed workforce to meet these demands and provide the best ammunition possible for our armed forces time and time again.”

“Federal’s frangible training ammunition has been recognized as the best in the business by the United States military and this latest U.S. Army-awarded contract continues that recognition,” said David Leis, Federal’s vice president of government sales. “The ammunition is designed to disintegrate into small fragments on impact, minimizing over-penetrating and ricochet hazards, making it ideal for training purposes.”

Learn more about Federal Ammunition at federalpremium.com.

Latest

2026NCAA Gogniat Airrifle 2
2026NCAA Gogniat Airrifle 2

Ole Miss Rifle’s Audrey Gogniat Secures Second Consecutive NCAA Air Rifle Title

Audrey Gogniat of Ole Miss defends NCAA air rifle title with a stunning come-from-behind win in the final at Ohio State on Saturday.

RCBS Adds To MatchMaster Precision Case Trimmer Lineup

RCBS adds a .338-caliber pilot and a pilot-free 3-Way Cutter Head to the MatchMaster Precision Case Trimmer, extending the line’s caliber range and speeding up bench workflow.

Kentucky’s Braden Peiser Surges to Win NCAA Smallbore Title

Kentucky’s Braden Peiser wins individual smallbore title at 2026 NCAA Rifle Championship with 466.0 final score at Ohio State’s Covelli Center.

New: Real Avid Ratchet Rest Adjustable Height Shooting Bags

Real Avid’s Ratchet Rest shooting bags replace manual squeezing and stacking with a built-in ratcheting core that clicks to precise heights, available in three sizes from $44.99 to $189.97.

How Competition Shooting Changed Everything For This Father and Son

Finding purpose through USPSA: a father, a son and the sport that changed everything.

West Virginia Rallies Again to Win 21st NCAA Rifle Championship

WVU rallies from fourth place after Day One to win its 21st NCAA rifle title with a championship-record 4748 aggregate, seven points ahead of TCU.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.