Britain’s next rifle: Inside the race to replace the SA80

For nearly 40 years, the British Army’s standard rifle has been the SA80. Officially designated the L85, the weapon has been praised, cursed, upgraded and carried everywhere from the Gulf War to Afghanistan. Now, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the SA80 will finally be retired by 2030.

The search for its replacement is already underway under a program called Project Grayburn, a competition that will see the Army test and evaluate contenders from some of the biggest names in small arms. The Grayburn decision will shape how the British Army fights in the 2030s, and it could shift Britain’s relationship with NATO on calibers, doctrine and industry.

Why retire the SA80 now?

The SA80 entered service as the L85A1 in 1985 as part of the Small Arms for the 1980s program (hence SA80).