The US Army has partnered with Pennsylvania-based manufacturers to develop a next‑generation small arms barrel that delivers greater durability and wear resistance for high-pressure weapons.
Army armament specialists from the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center worked with Carpenter Technology and Geissele Automatics under Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) signed in 2022.
Carpenter developed the high-strength alloy GNB 200, while Geissele refined cold hammer forging techniques to produce the material at scale for military small caliber weapons.
The project addressed corrosion, pressure buildup, and mechanical wear issues associated with increased stresses in next-generation systems.
DEVCOM conducted accelerated wear testing, supplied ammunition, and provided technical oversight, while Geissele focused on manufacturability, testing barrels forged with the new alloy and exploring coating alternatives.
In the project’s final year, which concluded in spring 2025, GNB 200 barrels were tested in M240L machine guns and showed significantly improved performance compared with standard barrels.
DEVCOM and Geissele also collaborated on a new rifle profile which reduces wear and improves shot dispersion. The design was awarded a patent in October 2025.
While the CRADA with Carpenter Technology has ended, DEVCOM renewed its agreement with Geissele for another three years to continue barrel coating research.
Using CRADAs for Defense Improvement
A CRADA is a formal partnership between a federal laboratory and one or more non-federal parties that allows them to collaborate on research or development projects while sharing expertise, resources, and intellectual property.
Other US Army CRADAs demonstrate how the service leverages partnerships with industry to advance weapons technology.
An example is the agreement with Oshkosh Defense in April 2022, which explored medium-caliber armament technologies for potential integration into future combat vehicle platforms.
In June 2025, BAE Systems partnered with the DEVCOM Armaments Center under a CRADA to upgrade the M109 self‑propelled howitzer.
By January 2026, Hanwha Defense USA signed a CRADA with the army to integrate a 58-caliber cannon into its K9 self‑propelled howitzer.
The US Army has also used CRADAs for broader weapon‑support systems. For example, a 2022 agreement with SpaceLink enabled joint research on tactical communications networks for artillery and missile platforms.
