The United States Army has partnered with Pennsylvania-based manufacturers to develop a next-generation small arms barrel designed to improve durability and resistance to wear under high-pressure conditions.
Specialists from the DEVCOM Armaments Center collaborated with Carpenter Technology and Geissele Automatics under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) signed in 2022. Carpenter developed the advanced GNB 200 alloy, while Geissele optimized cold hammer forging methods to enable large-scale production for military small-caliber weapons.
The initiative focused on overcoming challenges such as corrosion, pressure buildup, and mechanical wear associated with next-generation weapon systems. DEVCOM conducted accelerated wear testing and provided technical oversight, while Geissele concentrated on manufacturability and explored coating solutions alongside barrel testing.
By the final phase of the program in spring 2025, barrels made from GNB 200 were tested in M240L machine gun platforms, demonstrating significantly improved performance compared to standard barrels. The partners also developed a new rifle barrel profile that reduces wear and enhances shot dispersion, earning a patent in October 2025.
While the CRADA with Carpenter Technology has concluded, DEVCOM extended its agreement with Geissele for an additional three years to continue research into advanced barrel coatings.
CRADAs serve as formal collaboration frameworks between federal laboratories and industry, enabling shared expertise, resources, and intellectual property to accelerate innovation. The Army has used similar partnerships in other programs, including a 2022 agreement with Oshkosh Defense to explore medium-caliber weapon systems for future combat vehicles.
In June 2025, BAE Systems partnered with DEVCOM to upgrade the M109 howitzer, while in January 2026, Hanwha Defense USA signed a CRADA to integrate a 58-caliber cannon into its K9 howitzer. Additionally, a 2022 agreement with SpaceLink supported research into tactical communications networks for artillery and missile systems.
