The 7.62x40mm Huángfēng (黃蜂 - Wasp) is a caseless, self-propelled gyrojet bullet produced and used by the Daqin Diguo and its Diguo Junshi. Though it is most known for its seeker capabilities, it comes with a wide selection of projectiles that has allowed it to remain in service for decades. Having entered service in 2274 CE, it has seen numerous small changes and improvements over time owing to developments in personal firearms being relatively incremental and small. Though the projectiles themselves may sometimes offer vastly different performance and capability, firearms utilizing the 7.62x40mm Wasp are all cross compatible.
Introduced in 2318CE, the DBZ18 is based off of the original DBZ74 cartridge, being the latest iteration in smart-bullet design from the Daqin Empire. The tip consists of an advanced sensor suite of visual, thermal and radar arrays that can be linked with the firearm and user. In turn, the user can update target tracking and acquisition data mid-combat to bolster accuracy against targets with advanced camouflage, spoofing and jamming countermeasures. The projectile also features either a tungsten or depleted uranium alloy penetrator, followed by a bursting charge timed to explode within the target. Finally, the base of the projectile features four missile nozzles designed to both stabilize and steer the projectile.
Downgraded versions featuring no bursting charge for lower material requirements and faster manufacturing are typically lumped under the designation DBZ17 for simplicity.
A further downgraded version of the original DBZ74, the PDZ73 was designed for test firing, practice, calibration and scarcity. As a result, the projectile itself features no advanced features. The missile nozzles for steering are replaced with fixed rocket nozzles. Tungsten or depleted uranium alloy penetrator cores are often omitted as well. As a result of its simple, 'classic' design, weapons using this type of bullet must be aimed manually, and their ballistic trajectories calculated.
Smart Rifle Bullet 18 (Diàn Bùqiāng Zǐdàn 18 - 电步槍子彈)
Introduced in 2318CE, the DBZ18 is based off of the original DBZ74 cartridge, being the latest iteration in smart-bullet design from the Daqin Empire. The tip consists of an advanced sensor suite of visual, thermal and radar arrays that can be linked with the firearm and user. In turn, the user can update target tracking and acquisition data mid-combat to bolster accuracy against targets with advanced camouflage, spoofing and jamming countermeasures. The projectile also features either a tungsten or depleted uranium alloy penetrator, followed by a bursting charge timed to explode within the target. Finally, the base of the projectile features four missile nozzles designed to both stabilize and steer the projectile.
Downgraded versions featuring no bursting charge for lower material requirements and faster manufacturing are typically lumped under the designation DBZ17 for simplicity.
Standard Rifle Bullet 74 (Pǔtōng Bùqiāng Zǐdàn 73 - 普通步槍子彈)
A further downgraded version of the original DBZ74, the PDZ73 was designed for test firing, practice, calibration and scarcity. As a result, the projectile itself features no advanced features. The missile nozzles for steering are replaced with fixed rocket nozzles. Tungsten or depleted uranium alloy penetrator cores are often omitted as well. As a result of its simple, 'classic' design, weapons using this type of bullet must be aimed manually, and their ballistic trajectories calculated.