The UK Ministry of Defence has issued an industry notice seeking potential suppliers for a replacement for the aging SA80 family of rifles, marking an early step toward modernizing the British Army’s individual small-arms capability.
The notice has been released under the concept phase of Project Grayburn, with the envisaged contract period running from April 2028 through March 2045.
According to the notice, the selected weapon will be manufactured in the UK to strengthen sovereign supply chains, support employment, and enhance export potential.
In addition, London is seeking to establish a long-term strategic partnership with the chosen supplier, covering not only delivery but also spiral capability development and, over time, the potential inclusion of a broader range of dismounted close-combat weapons.
The in-service variants slated for replacement include the L22 Carbine, L98 Cadet Rifle, L85A2 General Service Rifle, and the most recent mid-life upgrade, the L85A3 Dismounted Close Combat rifle.
Required Features
While neither the weapon layout nor the cartridge has been specified, the new system must be capable of defeating current and emerging body-armor threats.
The current SA80 rifle is chambered in 5.56×45mm, a caliber increasingly viewed as inadequate for modern combat due to range limitations and reduced effectiveness against contemporary armor.
Possible cartridge candidates include the 6.8×51mm Common Cartridge developed under the US Next Generation Squad Weapon program, currently fielded with the M7 rifle and M250 automatic rifle.
Another contender is the 6.5mm Creedmoor, which is already in service with the Royal Marines on the L129A2 designated marksman rifle.
The new weapon should support rapid, intuitive integration of capability-enhancing equipment, including day optics and in-line night-vision devices, while select variants are expected to incorporate signature-reduction technologies, such as suppressors.
Additionally, the system must demonstrate high reliability across a wide range of climatic and environmental conditions, ensuring consistent performance in diverse and demanding operational environments.
Possible Replacements
The SA80 entered service as the L85A1 in 1985, replacing the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle, and is expected to retire around 2030.
Its bullpup configuration places the action and magazine behind the trigger, allowing a full-length barrel in a compact weapon optimized for mechanized and urban operations.
The rifle has seen multiple upgrades, most notably the L85A2 refurbishment by Heckler & Koch in the early 2000s and the current L85A3 standard.
Under Project Grayburn, the Ministry of Defence reportedly aims to procure 150,000-180,000 new rifles for the British Army.
The program is in the concept phase, with an assessment phase to follow and a contract award planned for 2028, allowing time for fielding before the SA80’s retirement.
Several manufacturers have expressed interest. Beretta Defence Technologies is offering the New Assault Rifle Platform and the Sako M23, already in service with Finland and Sweden.
Heckler & Koch is proposing the HK416 and HK433, while SIG Sauer is promoting variants of its MCX family, configurable for multiple calibers, including 6.8×51 mm, which underpins the US Army’s M7 rifle.
