I remember hearing something in "Guns & weapons of Law Enforcement" about the micro AR-15/M-16 rifles. There was mention of "full bore diameter" projectiles that were supposed to offer alot less resistance and friction in the barrel and allow the propellent to push the projectile at a much higher velocity.
You are right about advanced powders, which may allow an improvement in ballistics of pistols as well as rifles, without increased chamber pressure (9mm @1600+fps?)
I would also explore a little into nanotechnology. You may see this apllied into several areas of military arms, like sighting systems, fused munitions, etc.
Another thing WAY down the road is the use of combat exoskeletons. I don't mean to go sci-fi on you, but think about a soldier that can carry a GE minigun with a massive amount of ammo, and be impervious to 7.62 and 5.56 fire. Also, modular hardpoints that would carry rockets, etc. This may be beyong the scope of your paper, strattling the fence between smallarms and vehicles, but it may just be the future of the battlefield.
You may also want to check out chemical lasers, too, as these would be easier to miniturize, but have limited payload (better chance than supercapacitors, at this point, but who knows what the government has in the labs) [;)]
BTW, there was a railgun test of a 90KW tank mounted rail gun some two or three years ago. Can't remember much more of the specifics, though.
Hope this helps,
Urban