The US Marine Corps (USMC) has begun the widespread distribution of suppressors to equip all of its close combat units, the Marine CorpsTimes noted in a 30 December 2020 article.
The suppressors are intended for the M27 IAR, M4, M4A1, and M38 rifles currently in use. This follows the experimental issuing of suppressors to battalion-level formations in order to establish viability and ensure that using the suppressors achieves the desired effects and improved mission capabilities.
Following those trials, a contract was awarded to the Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) in October 2020 for its QDSS NT4: a quick-detach (QD) suppressor that uses a gate latch system to quickly and easily attach to, or detach from, the host weapon. This enables greater operational flexibility, as well as maintenance and replacement where necessary. The contract placed for the suppressors was for USD25.652 million for a total of 25,853 suppressors.
The suppressors are intended to reduce not just the audio report of firing but also the other elements of firing signature, including flash. This will enable US marines to maintain the initiative in the firefight and make it more difficult for the enemy to locate them, improving individual survivability as the enemy is unable to easily sight the muzzle flash and return effective fire.
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