Safe “Force On Force” Training Ammunition for the Ground Forces of the IDF
The Ground Forces of the IDF will begin training all the infantry units in
urban warfare scenarios with unique 5.56mm FOF (Force On Force) marking
ammunition, which is Lead Free, non-toxic and safe for the environment and
for indoor training use
Eyal Boguslavsky | 28/01/2016
http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/safe-%E2%80%9Cforce-force%E2%80%9D-training-ammunition-ground-forces-idf

Starting 2016, the Ground Forces of the IDF will begin training all the
infantry units in urban warfare scenarios with unique 5.56mm FOF (Force On
Force) marking ammunition, which is Lead Free, non-toxic and safe for the
environment and for indoor training use. The ammunition is manufactured by
the US corporation Vista Outdoor. The first batch of this ammunition will
soon be arrived to the IDF Ground Forces, together with an exclusive
conversion kits that include bolt carrier and magazines that do not enable
the use of live ammunition. The system will be carried at a designated
Pelican case for proper storage and mobility.

The FOF marking ammunition is considered safe for use also in live-action,
reality-based scenarios with the lowest standoff distance required in the
market (1ft). IDF’s main objectives of the transition to practice marker
rounds is to avoid the occurrence of accidental shooting as the result of
using live ammunition as well as the high wear and tear on structures
specially used for urban warfare.

This training system is considered unique for its type in the world, since
it is lead-free and is not operated by propellant materials (gunpowder), but
by an innovative technology using the energy made by operating a special
lead-free primer. This turns it into the safest and cleanest ammunition
today for use among buildings and inner spaces, and, obviously, in built-up
shooting ranges of all kinds.

FOF ammunition is intended for use in various weapon platforms, such as the
Tavor/Micro-Tavor rifles and the M-16/M-4 in their various configurations.
It does not require any significant changes in the weapon other than
changing the Bolt carrier assembly, which allows soldiers to train with
their personal weapon and tactical accessories.

The FOF consists of a soft plastic Projectile Cap containing durable marking
fluid that does not dry (red or blue). The Projectile Cap releases the
internal marking implement upon impact on hard and soft elements to mark the
points of strike on targets. The opinion expressed by IDF professionals, is
that the fact that there is no need for special protective measures for
structures while training with this ammunition, will enable the IDF’s Ground
forces to have a more valuable training experience in almost every terrain
without taking special measures and at a very low cost.

Gil Elharar, Vice-President of North East Technologies LTD, the manufacturer’s
Israeli representative, emphasizes that the FOF ammunition is already in use
by numerous Western military forces and law enforcement agencies which are
using this game-changing ammunition mainly to train their operators in
real-life scenarios (Force On Force) for real life and death decisions.