Integral Suppressed Weapon Barrel

Reducing muzzle noise and flash from military and police firearms provides a significant tactical advantage in the field. Existing suppression technology reduces noise, but comparatively little science exits to explain how current designs can be advanced to provide enhanced suppressor performance. Furthermore, even less design guidance exists that can lead to integration of suppressors into a firearm’s barrel assembly, as envisioned by the Marine Corps and other military and civilian agencies. Lessons learned as a result of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have indicated that increased use of current suppressors, as part of everyday operations, have led to shortened life cycles of suppressors, increased maintenance (and sometimes damage) of weapons, and considerable variability in weapon accuracy. FloDesign, Inc. and its large business partner, FN Manufacturing, LLC (FNM), have successfully completed (i.e.in July of 2007), a series of tasks to investigate and advance the understanding and science of noise/flash suppression, suppressor self-cleansing, and generally determine the feasibility of applying aerospace mixer/ejector science to muzzle blast suppression. It was, incidentally, noted that noise and flash suppression are closely related components of the muzzle blast. This SBIR effort will apply the design guidance gained previously to integrated barrel suppressors.