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Thread: UK Award Heckler & Koch $95 million Contract For SA80 Rifle Upgrade

  1. #1
    Industry Member North_Sylva's Avatar
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    Post UK Award Heckler & Koch $95 million Contract For SA80 Rifle Upgrade

    https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/11/08/sa80-rifle-upgrade/?fbclid=IwAR2CLAdki8w5RciX8XNVhuVkDYVbO3vI48ip5SET yZTR-2YbdC_prgrypwA

    The British Army is set to receive up to 44,000 upgraded L85A3/SA80A3s over the next four to five years. Jane’s 360 Infantry Weapons reports that the UK Ministry of Defence are moving forward with a large contract with Heckler & Koch to upgrade a substantial number of L85A2 rifles.

    While the deal will not see the whole British Army rifle inventory upgraded it will see a total of nearly 50,000 upgraded – including the 5,000 already delivered. The move comes as part of the British Army’s Equipped to Fight programme and a larger re-evaluation and reorganisation of close combat infantry small arms issued to British troops.



    The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a notice on the 28th October that NSAF Ltd., the UK subsidiary of Heckler & Koch, will be contracted to upgrade 44,000 rifles to A3 standard. The contract is reported to be worth £75 million or $95.6 million. This gives a roughly estimated per rifle cost of £1,700, expensive when compared to the cost of a milspec M4 for example. The A2 upgrade is said to have cost £400 per rifle (a somewhat conservative estimate), while the A3 upgrade does include new upper receivers the cost seems prohibitively high. There has been no comment on the contract from Heckler & Koch as yet, nor an official statement from the MoD.

    The A3 upgrade fixes issues with the over-rotation of the selector lever, adds a new upper receiver and refurbishes the lower. The rifle is also cerakoted flat dark earth. A new custom forend from H&K has been added and a full-length top rail improves optic mounting. The rifle’s barrel is also now free floated improving accuracy. I’ve covered the changes to the rifle in more depth here.



    The news has garnered some tabloid attention with a recent Telegraph article seizing upon a quote from Major Ollie Pope, of the Infantry Trials and Development Unit, who described the A3 as “a more accurate more lethal weapon than almost anyone else out there.” Quite the claim although recent reports do suggest the A3 does have improved accuracy.

    Last month it was reported by In Front, the British Army’s new bi-annual newsletter, that a ‘business case’ was being put together “that will allow further procurement of 10K weapons over the next 2-3 years”. It seems that this ‘business case’ has been expanded from 10,000 to 44,000. It has not been confirmed how long the delivery period will be but if the Army maintains 5,000 per year then the upgrade of 44,000 would take nearly 9 years. It seems likely that a larger number, perhaps 10,000 will be upgraded per year, shortening the programme length.

  2. #2
    CGN Regular groundskeeper willy's Avatar
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    In for a penny, in for a pound I suppose.
    So many better choices nowadays.
    Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer, Now I are one.

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    CGN frequent flyer P11's Avatar
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    Yuck

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    CGN Ultra frequent flyer Epoxy7's Avatar
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    If we could buy them here in Canada I would still get one. It's basically a non branded HK these days. Interesting history and after all the money/time poured into it by HK it would be worth a try. I would hope it's a far cry these days from the initial release of the SA-80 which seemed to be universally accepted as a POS.

  5. #5
    CGN Regular Ian Sa's Avatar
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    The guy on forgotten weapons did a video article about this rifle. It sounds like it had promise but some cost saving measures really messed it up.
    I like it if they can fix it. It's supposed to be reasonably accurate already.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js4d8c7KzCQ

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    CGN Ultra frequent flyer Max Owner's Avatar
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    Thought the Brits went with LMTs in 308?

    Couple of years ago......?
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  7. #7
    BANNED
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    Garbage

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    Quote Originally Posted by eldarbo View Post
    Garbage
    Rubbish is more accurate.
    CCFR Member

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    CGN Ultra frequent flyer CZ85Combat's Avatar
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    lipstick on a pig....

  10. #10
    CGN Regular Deaus's Avatar
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    Interesting, It will more than likely end up costing them more then the stated figure, Like the original HK upgrades they did in the 90s.

    One would think they would be better off to just start a procurement program for a legit new rifle since that thing has had a Limp since day 1.
    Heckler and Koch - USP Tactical 45 Match/Hybrid LEM - Best trigger setup for any USP!!
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