One of APEX’s key advantages is its multi-role capability, combining armour-piercing and explosive effects in a single round. This allows it to be effective against a wide range of targets, including armoured, semi-armoured, and light vehicles, as well as airborne threats. The round is equipped with a tungsten carbide penetrator, which provides strong armour-piercing performance, while the explosive-filled warhead delivers blast, fragmentation, and incendiary effects inside the target with a delayed initiation mechanism.
The ammunition also offers an extended range, maintaining its speed over longer distances due to its advanced aerodynamic design. Compared to older systems, such as the M61 Vulcan, APEX boasts higher accuracy, increasing the probability of hitting a target in combat situations. Another unique feature is its graze impact function, which ensures effectiveness even when the round glances off a surface, unlike conventional ammunition that requires a direct hit to inflict damage.
To enhance safety and performance, the round is equipped with the FMU-171/U dual-safety fuze, which ensures a safe arming distance after being fired from an aircraft. It also incorporates a detonation delay, allowing it to penetrate before exploding, maximising damage inside the target. Additionally, APEX includes a tracer function, making it particularly useful for air policing operations, where visible warning shots may be required.
Source: Nammo.
