Please go to the 'Upgrade to a professional qualification' section for more information.
This five day intensive course focuses on the fundamental principles of small arms design.
At a glance
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- Dates
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- 17 - 21 Feb 2025
- Duration5 days
- LocationÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ at Shrivenham
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Cost£2,350 - Short Course for Credit fee
£2,100 - Standalone Short Course fee
Course structure
Lectures are delivered at MSc standard by ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ academics, supplemented by commercial and military Subject Matter Experts. The teaching is conducted in a military environment using static displays to aid the teaching environment. Where possible the knowledge of each taught phase is followed by a practical range session to consolidate the knowledge.What you will learn
The course is concerned with the design and development of small arms. It aims to provide an understanding of the systems technology employed and the design of discreet key components.
To do this, the course widens out to include the allied areas of study, including small arms ammunition muzzle attachments, sights and human factors integration, to place the design of small arms within their organisational and operational context.
On successful completion of the course you will be able to:
- Describe the component mechanisms and systems that make up a light weapon,
- Explain the operating principles of small arms and assess their applicability to system requirements,
- Demonstrate an understanding of the design of a light weapon system and the detail design of its critical components,
- Critically assess the function of light weapon systems using engineering principles, report and discuss the findings with a weapons engineer.
Core content
- Operation and safety,
- Ballistics,
- Hit probability,
- Operating mechanisms of rifles and machine guns,
- Firing mechanisms,
- Gun springs,
- Extractor design,
- Sighting systems,
- Introduction to grenades,
- Introduction to less lethal weapons systems.
Upgrade to a professional qualification
When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards either the Gun Systems Design MSc or the Military Vehicle Technology MSc.
Find out more about short course credit points.
Who should attend
The course is intended to provide engineers concerned with the design and development of Small Arms with an understanding of the systems' technology employed and the discreet design of key components. The course would also benefit to those involved in requirements capture and procurement of automatic weapon systems.Location and travel
Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) is a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders.
Shrivenham itself lies in the picturesque Vale of the White Horse, close to the M4 motorway which links London and South Wales. It is 7 miles from Swindon, the nearest town, which lies off the M4 at the hub of Britain’s motorway network.
Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour’s drive and London less than two hours away by car.
All visitors must be pre-booked in at reception by the person they are visiting on the campus.
How to apply
To apply for this course please use the online application form.
Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.