The Ministry of Defence has reiterated that Venture Grayburn, the British Military’s effort to exchange the SA80A3 service rifle, stays in its idea part, with early work centered on defining functionality wants and fascinating with business.
In response to written parliamentary questions tabled by Ben Overweight-Jecty MP (Conservative, Huntingdon), Minister for Defence Maria Eagle confirmed that the programme continues to be on the exploratory stage.
“Venture GRAYBURN is presently within the idea part with the goal of figuring out and understanding the aptitude necessities,” she acknowledged, including that concerns embody “efficiency, interoperability and complexity.”
Whereas full particulars stay beneath wraps resulting from business sensitivities, the Minister famous that additional updates will likely be outlined within the forthcoming Defence Funding Plan. The plan, anticipated within the autumn, will substitute the present Defence Gear Plan and develop on functionality investments set out within the 2025 Strategic Defence Evaluate.
The British Military presently fields the L85A3, the newest variant of the long-serving SA80 household, as its standard-issue rifle. First launched within the Eighties, the SA80 underwent a number of overhauls to enhance reliability, ergonomics and weight distribution, culminating within the present A3 model.
Regardless of these enhancements, the Military has acknowledged the necessity to transfer in the direction of a extra trendy platform. The projected out-of-service date for the L85A3 is presently 2030, and Venture Grayburn has been established to determine and ship its alternative.
As a part of early idea work, the Ministry has confirmed that “numerous rifle calibres are being thought-about”, alongside design traits corresponding to adaptability to optics and modular attachments. Eagle additionally famous that the Military is taking “measures to mitigate any danger of potential functionality vulnerabilities” throughout the transition interval.
The MOD has already held discussions with producers and business consultants to judge how the Land Industrial Technique and UK manufacturing capability would possibly affect the longer term weapon’s improvement. Whereas the general value of the programme stays unknown, it would rely upon the eventual scope and complexity of the chosen design.
Venture Grayburn goals to supply a next-generation particular person weapon tailor-made to the evolving calls for of recent battle, combining reliability, lethality and interoperability with allies.