Norwegian ammunition specialist Nammo announced that it has signed a contract to deliver its advanced 25 mm x 137 APEX PGU-47/U ammunition for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF’s) Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft.
Details of the contract were not disclosed, although Nammo noted that production of the ammunition is expected to commence in 2025 with deliveries scheduled over the following two years. The contract is also the first major success for this advanced ammunition type, which is designed specifically for the F-35A’s GAU-22/A cannon.
“This contract underscores Nammo’s commitment to innovation and excellence in defence technology,” said Reijo Bragberg, Executive Vice President of Nammo’s Small and Medium Caliber business unit. “Our APEX ammunition is recognised as the most capable aircraft ammunition ever deployed, and its performance against a diverse range of targets sets it apart.”
According to Nammo, the 25 mm x 137 APEX PGU-47/U ammunition combines armour-piercing and explosive effects in a single round and makes it effective against a wide variety of soft-skinned and hardened targets, featuring a tungsten carbide penetrator as well as an explosive-filled warhead with delayed initiation that can deliver blast, fragmentation, and incendiary effects inside the target.
The RAAF recently received the final nine of its 72 F-35A Lightning II aircraft on order in December 2024. According to the Australian Department of Defence (DoD), the delivery of the final batch of aircraft also marked another milestone for Australian F-35A operations, with the nine aircraft being the first of the RAAF’s fleet to have received Technology Refresh 3, enabling Block 4 upgrades that will support the new and enhanced capabilities required to meet future threats.
by Jr Ng
