A subcaliber projectile, comprising a penetrator (4) and a propelling cage (5, 5') that surrounds at least a midportion of the penetrator, wherein the base region (8) of a cap (7, 7', 7") that is tapered toward the penetrator point (6) is arranged on the propelling cage (8). To achieve, on the one hand, a good and secure feeding during the firing of the projectile with automatic weapons, and, on the other hand, a good hit capability, the inertial forces of the cap (7, 7', 7") during the acceleration of the projectile (2) inside the weapon tube (1) are used to cause a defined disintegration of the cap (7, 7', 7") into segments. For this purpose, the cap (7, 7', 7") is supported in its base region (8) on a surface (9, 9') of the propelling cage (5, 5') that is tapered conically toward the projectile point, such that during the acceleration of the projectile (2) inside the weapon tube (1), the cap (7, 7', 7") is displaced axially in the direction of the propelling cage (5, 5'), which leads to an expansion in the base region (8) of the cap and causes a cracking or breaking of the cap (7, 7', 7") at groove-shaped, predetermined breakage locations (13, 13') of the cap (7, 7', 7") that extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis (12) of the projectile (2).