Who made the L85A2?

Royal Ordnance
SA80/Manufacturers

When did the SA80 come into service?

1985
The SA80 series of rifles entered service with the British Army in 1985. The SA80 family underwent a major mid-life update in 2002, during which the SA80 A1 rifles were upgraded to the SA80 A2 standard.

When was the L85A3 made?

It looks like it was developed as a part of future soldier program. A prototype of the L85A3 was first publicly revealed in 2016. It is a proposed upgrade for existing L85A2 rifles. The main goal was to extend service life of this weapon until 2025 and beyond.

Who makes the L85?

Is the SA 80 any good?

“The SA-80 is a highly capable weapon which remains the individual infantry weapon of choice across the armed forces.”

Why does the UK use the SA80?

SA80 is the designation for a revolutionary family of assault weapons. On its introduction, it proved so accurate that the Army marksmanship tests had to be redesigned. SA80 A2 comprises the Individual Weapon (IW) and the Light Support Weapon (LSW). These are the British Army’s standard combat weapons.

What is the L85A3 assault rifle?

Assault rifle. The L85A3 is a new British assault rifle, that was first revealed in 2016. The L85A3 is a further upgraded variant of the L85A2 assault rifle, which is currently a standard-issue infantry weapon with the British Forces. It looks like it was developed as a part of future soldier program.

What is the difference between the L85A2 and L85A3?

The L85A2 will need replacement sometime between 2025 and 2030. The British forces are apparently not too impressed by any of the currently available rifles. The L85A3 is a design study for a possible refurbishment/upgrade of the current rifle.

What kind of magazine does the L85A3 have?

A prototype of the L85A3, that was revealed in 2016, was fitted with a polymer magazine, developed by Magpul. These magazines were purchased as an urgent operational requirement for operations in Afghanistan. The magazine has a clear round counting window. This handy feature allows to see how much rounds are left in the magazine.

Is the L85A3 an ambidextrous rifle?

Though the L85A3 is not ambidextrous. Extraction is only to the right side. This assault rifle is fed from a 30-round capacity magazines. A prototype of the L85A3, that was revealed in 2016, was fitted with a polymer magazine, developed by Magpul.