Integral Suppressed Weapon Barrel Navy SBIR FY2007.3 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2007.3 Topic No.: N07-161 Topic Title: Integral Suppressed Weapon Barrel Proposal No.: N073-161-0163 Firm: FloDesign, Inc. 380 Main Street Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095 Contact: Walter Presz Phone: (413) 596-5900 Web Site: www.flodesign.org Abstract: 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. Benefits: As a result ongoing efforts utilizing FloDesign's patented mixer/ejector technologies, FN Manufacturing (a part of the FN Herstal Group) has become convinced that mixer ejector technology holds great promise for advancing self-cleansing noise/flash suppression performance. As such, FNM has encouraged FloDesign to propose this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to utilize the previously developed analytical models and design guidance to further examine mixer/ejector suppressor applications that will guide the development of state-of-the-art integrated Flash/Noise suppression technology with the following criteria in mind:  Lower Noise.  Hide Flash.  Integrated Cooling and Cleaning.  Evaluate Integration to Barrel.  Maintain Firearm Accuracy.  Maintain Mechanical Operation of Firearm. The benefits to the military of such a suppressor system are well understood. Commercial applications are also considerable and could provide an additional level of security and protection to the law enforcement community, as well as improve - with adequate regulatory control - the noise associated with recreational use of firearms. Furthermore, the underlying technology of this innovation - the mixer/ejector - is currently used in jet propulsion noise and heat signature work, and has shown considerable potential in the areas of Less Than Lethal weapons, consumer products, and renewable energy to name a few specific areas. Return