.50 Cal Reduced Range Ammunition
[McLean, VA – May 1, 2020] On March 31, 2020, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded OCR Global, Inc. (OCR) the second delivery order contract to supply .50 Caliber Reduced Range Ammunition (RRA). This delivery order falls under the $47 million USD, single-award, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity, Base Contract which was awarded to OCR in June 2018 by the Naval Surface Warfare Command (NSWC) Crane Division.
OCR has partnered with one of the world’s largest ammunition manufacturers, Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos (CBC), headquartered in Ribeirão Pires, Brazil. CBC’s expertise in the production of small and medium calibers, extending back to 1926, has made the company one of the most formidable ammunition producers in the world, with a wide range of products exported to over 100 countries. “We are honored to have this opportunity to support NSWC’s mission,” said Rhonda Irby, President of OCR. “OCR has not only secured an important win for the company but also a wonderful partnership with CBC and NAVSEA.”
The .50 Caliber (12.7x99mm) RR cartridge is designed for use on training ranges and for combat where ricochet and stray bullets traveling beyond standard target distances may cause collateral damage. The .50 caliber RRA has a maximum range roughly 50% shorter than that of conventional M33/M17 ammunition. This is a major advantage when operating near urban areas since users can fire the .50 caliber RRA on a 7.62mm range, without changing the maximum distance of the safety template. The RRA cartridge functions normally when fired from machine guns without auxiliary equipment. The .50 caliber RRA ammunition will be manufactured specifically to meet the quality and performance requirements of NAVSEA as well as the safety requirements of the Department of Defense.
About NSWC Crane: The Crane Division, located in Crane, Indiana is a shore command of the U.S. Navy. NSWC Crane is under the NAVSEA Command, headquartered in Washington DC. The mission of NSWC Crane is to provide acquisition engineering, in-service engineering, and technical support for sensors, electronics, electronic warfare, and special warfare weapons. NSWC Crane also works to apply component and system-level product and industrial engineering to surface sensors, strategic systems, special warfare devices, and electronic warfare systems, as well as to execute other responsibilities as assigned by the Commander, NSWC.