The Pentagon announced Wednesday that Georgia-based Daniel Defense has won a large contract issued through the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Located in Black Creek, Daniel Defense is no stranger to supplying high-speed components to the military's most elite units, having delivered quad rails and the Rail Interface System II, or RIS II, to the U.S. Special Operations Command for years. Likewise, the company has been a supplier of barrels and gas blocks for SOCOM's Upper Receiver Group-Improved program. The URG-I, coupled with a standard M4 lower, is reportedly used by units as diverse as the U.S. Army Rangers and Special Forces.

Daniel Defense crafts its barrels in-house as Guns.com found out in a recent factory tour of the company's Georgia facility. 
 

Daniel Defense barrels
Daniel Defense typically cold-hammer forges its barrels from 4150 chrome-moly-vanadium steel, a process that sets them apart from other barrel manufacturers. They are typically finished in a Mil-spec heavy-phosphate coating and chrome-lined for durability. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)


The latest contract for Daniel, a $9.1 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity award, is for 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch cold-hammer-forged barrels for URG-Is. Work will be performed entirely at the company's Black Creek facility and is expected to be completed by March 2027. The NSWC's Crane Division – which is responsible for the testing and procurement of SOCOM’s small arms – is the contracting authority. 

According to the Navy's 2022 Budget workbook, at least 2,100 14.5-inch URG-I kits are on order for delivery starting in July.

Banner image: Daniel Defense DDM4 URGs ready to ship in Black Creek, Georgia. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

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