US Army Explores 50mm Cannon for Drone Destruction

The U.S. Army is seeking companies capable of supplying a 50mm cannon and ammunition for counter-drone defense.

The objective is to integrate a 50mm ammunition solution to effectively track, engage, and defeat Class 1, 2, and 3 unmanned aerial system (UAS) threats. This initiative is detailed in the Army’s Sources Sought notice. Concurrently, the U.S. Army abruptly removed Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, who was leading V Corps in Europe, from command. The Army confirmed the removal on Monday but did not provide a reason or the date of his departure.

In Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) on General Aamer Raza, commander of the National Strategic Command, during a ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday. President Zardari had approved the conferment on July 31. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, services chiefs, and senior military and government officials.

General Raza was promoted to four-star general and appointed Commander of the National Strategic Command in July. The CNSC post was established under last year’s 27th Constitutional Amendment, which altered the military’s chain of command to assume the nuclear manager role previously held by the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, a post that was abolished.

General Raza previously received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-Basalat. Before his current role, he served as chief of general staff and oversaw organizational changes following last year's conflict with India, including the establishment of the Army Rocket Force Command.