UK expands SA80 rifle upgrade programme

[Vergennes]

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is moving forward with a large-scale order of upgraded SA80A3 rifles as part of its Equipped to Fight programme, which will see a significant proportion of the British Army's L85A2 inventory, the individual weapon variant of the SA80 family, upgraded to the new A3 standard.

A notice was issued on 28 October stating that the MoD intended to award NSAF Limited, a UK subsidiary of Heckler & Koch, a contract worth up to GBP75 million (USD95.6 million) to modify and supply 44,000 upgraded 5.56×45 mm SA80 rifles.

The Equipped to Fight programme is run by the MoD's Land Equipment, Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) team.

https://www.janes.com/article/84230/uk-expands-sa80-rifle-upgrade-programme

 

[Vergennes]

What a rip off,especially to upgrade a 40 year old design rifle ! That's about €1931 per rifle !

Even France paid less per rifle for their brand new HK416A5s.

@Zarvan @Path-Finder @waz @Nilgiri @Frogman @Arsalan @Abingdonboy

 

[HannibalBarca]

What a rip off,especially to upgrade a 40 year old design rifle ! That's about €1931 per rifle !

Even France paid less per rifle for their brand new HK416A5s.

View attachment 515947

@Zarvan @Path-Finder @waz @Nilgiri @Frogman @Arsalan @Abingdonboy

Well... A star less on the Blue flag...come at a "premium" price...

 

[Bilal.]

What a rip off,especially to upgrade a 40 year old design rifle ! That's about €1931 per rifle !

Even France paid less per rifle for their brand new HK416A5s.

View attachment 515947

@Zarvan @Path-Finder @waz @Nilgiri @Frogman @Arsalan @Abingdonboy

What was the unit price paid for the 416's?

 

[Frogman]

What a rip off,especially to upgrade a 40 year old design rifle ! That's about €1931 per rifle !

Even France paid less per rifle for their brand new HK416A5s.

View attachment 515947

Stuck with it for at least another 15 years. Until there's change in generations.

I guess the high unit price is offset by not needing to retrain and all the other stuff that needs to be done when you change rifles.

Although there is an argument that the C8 could be introduced pretty easily. Already in use by SF, RMP CP, and some niche RM units.

 

[Vergennes]

What was the unit price paid for the 416's?

If I remember,the price quoted per rifle was between €1100 and €1200.

 

[Bilal.]

If I remember,the price quoted per rifle was between €1100 and €1200.

Pretty good price. Bang on target of what it should be.

 

[Path-Finder]

What a rip off,especially to upgrade a 40 year old design rifle ! That's about €1931 per rifle !

Even France paid less per rifle for their brand new HK416A5s.

View attachment 515947

@Zarvan @Path-Finder @waz @Nilgiri @Frogman @Arsalan @Abingdonboy

The rifle now is a far cry from what it was specially thanks to H&K wizardry.