The UK Ministry of Defence on Thursday announced that Florida-based Knight’s Armament Company will supply the country's elite troops with up to 10,000 rifles over the next decade.
As the British military's main infantry rifle system since 1985 has been the domestically designed (but Stoner AR-18 based) Enfield L85/SA80 bullpup carbine in 5.56 NATO, the program that KAC just won is known as the Alternative Individual Weapon system. While most units will continue to field the L85, the new rifle is to equip the British Army's four-battalion Ranger Regiment and the Royal Marine's Commando units.
Type classified as the L403A1 in British service; the rifle selected for the AIW program tender is the KAC KS-1 in 5.56. Using a 13.7-inch 1:7 twist barrel with a quick detach muzzle device that supports suppressors, a full-length free-floating aluminum handguard with M-LOK slots and a top Pic rail, the KS-1 has fully ambi controls and Magpul furniture.
Rather than being a piston gun such as the HK416 series, the KS-1 has a direct gas impingement system in the form of KAC's improved Mod 2 gas system which is designed to run both suppressed and unsuppressed without adjustment.
The program's maximum value, £90 million ($112 million), is based on 10,000 rifles delivered out to 2033. The initial £15 million ($18.7 million) order announced this week is for 1,620 guns.
The systems will initially be fielded to the British Army's Special Operations Brigade's new Ranger Regiment, "who operate in complex, high threat environments."
Meanwhile, further deliveries are going to the Royal Marines starting in 2024 as part of the Commando Force Programme, which will include not only the new rifle but also new night vision goggles, tactical communications systems, battlefield vehicles, and helmets.
The L403A1 is not the only new American platform soon headed to service with the Royal Marines. The force is also fielding new LMT-made L129A2 Sharpshooter Rifles, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. These will be outfitted with Leupold scopes and HuxWrx suppressors. The Marines intend to equip two designated expert shooters in each Commando Force Strike Team with these upgraded rifles.
LMT has previously supplied the L129A1 series rifle, a development of the company's LM308MWS chambered in 7.62 NATO, to the British military. LMT picked up a UK contract for the rifle in 2009 for 3,000 rifles and a follow-up contract with the New Zealand Army in 2011.
