This month firearms maker Sig Sauer announced the introduction of two new rifle suppressors, which were each developed to meet the requirements of the U.S. military. The new SLH and SLX utilized rugged materials to ensure extreme durability. The new series of suppressors was created through the wholesale transition of the Sig Sauer product line to Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), which resulted in what the company has claimed to be the most "innovative suppressor technology" to date.

"The commercial launch of the SLX and SLH suppressors has been highly anticipated due to the fact that these are the suppressors we developed exclusively for our Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program submission," explained Tom Taylor, the chief marketing officer and executive vice president for commercial sales at Sig Sauer.

"The DMLS manufacturing process of the SLX and SLH suppressors eliminates the drawbacks of welded baffles that historically presents design limitations for sound, flash, and the reduction of toxic fumes," Taylor said. "Alternatively, the SLX and SLH suppressors are designed to not only withstand the rigors of the battlefield through their innovative monolithic design but are each optimized to dramatically reduce harmful toxic fumes and sound because of patented design features that can only be achieved through non-traditional manufacturing processes."

The new suppressors feature a new internal multi-flow path that provides a focus on sound reduction, while it also serves to reduce up to 50 percent of the toxic fumes vented through the ejection port.

The SLH series was also designed to provide the highest degree of sound reduction in both supersonic and subsonic ammunition and available for 7.62 NATO and 300BLK calibers. Additionally, Sig Sauer's SLH suppressors offer a monolithic core construction in either Inconel or titanium, an internal multi-flow path to exhaust gases at a higher rate resulting in lower toxic fume inhalation, a sound-reducing baffle design, a flash-reducing end cap, and are available with either the new Clutch-Lock QD mounting system for easy install and removal that offers an intuitive tactile locking ring with infinite radial locking positions or direct thread. The SLH suppressors have an overall length of 5.24-inches (7.62 NATO) or 7.49-inches (300BLK).

The SLX was also developed to drastically reduce toxic fume inhalation by the end-user as well as sound reduction while this series is available for either the 5.56 or 7.62 NATO calibers. The SLX suppressors further utilize a monolithic core construction in Inconel, an internal multi-flow path to exhaust gases at a higher rate resulting in lower toxic fume inhalation, a sound-reducing baffle design, a flash reducing end cap, and are available with either the new Clutch-Lock QD mounting system for easy install and removal that offers an intuitive tactile locking ring with infinite radial locking positions or direct thread. The SLX series has an overall length of 5.24 or 7.49-inches.

The Sig Sauer SLH and SLX rifle suppressors are available now. Pricing varies based on the model and features. Visit SigSauer.com for more information.

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He regularly writes about military small arms, and is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com.