SA80 - wikipedia SA80 SA80 A British soldier firing a L85A2 with an attached L123A2 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher. Type Assault rifle Light Support Weapon Place of origin United Kingdom Service history In service 1985 -- present Used by See Users Wars See Conflicts Production history Designed 1970s -- 1980s Manufacturer Royal Small Arms Factory, Ferranti Produced 1985 -- 1994 No. built Approx. 350,000 Variants L85A1 Rifle L85A2 Rifle L86A1 Light Support Weapon L86A2 Light Support Weapon L22A2 Carbine L98A1 Cadet Rifle L98A2 Cadet Rifle Specifications Weight 3.82 kg ( 8.4 lb ) ( L85A2 empty ) 4.98 kg ( 11.0 lb ) ( L85A2 with SUSAT sight and loaded 30 - round magazine ) 6.58 kg ( 14.5 lb ) ( L86A2 LSW ) 4.42 kg ( 9.7 lb ) ( L22A1 ) Length 785 mm ( 30.9 in ) ( L85A2 & L98A2 ) 900 mm ( 35.4 in ) ( L86A2 LSW ) 709 mm ( 27.9 in ) ( L22A1 ) Barrel length 518 mm ( 20.4 in ) ( L85A2 & L98A2 ) 646 mm ( 25.4 in ) ( L86A2 LSW ) 442 mm ( 17.4 in ) ( L22A1 ) Cartridge 5.56 × 45mm NATO Action Gas - operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire 610 - 775 RPM Muzzle velocity 940 m / s ( 3,084 ft / s ) ( L85A2 & L98A2 ) 970 m / s ( 3,182.4 ft / s ) ( L86A2 LSW ) Effective firing range 600 m effective range used by one soldier. Effective at 800 m as a section using the LDS ( lightweight day sight ) Maximum firing range 1000 m ( L86A2 ) Feed system 30 - round detachable STANAG magazine 30 - round detachable polymer Magpul EMAG Sights Telescopic SUSAT, ACOG and ELCAN LDS scopes, aperture iron sights The SA80 is a British family of 5.56 × 45mm NATO small arms, all of which are selective fire, gas - operated assault rifle s. The L85 rifle variant of the SA80 family has been the standard issue service rifle of the British Armed Forces since 1987, replacing the L1A1 variant of the FN FAL. The first prototypes were created in 1976, with production ending in 1994. The A1 variant was significantly upgraded in the early 2000s by Heckler & Koch as the SA80A2 and remains in service as of 2017. In mid-2016 a prototype A3 variant was showcased which further improved on the weapon and is reportedly being considered to extend the out of service date beyond 2025. The remainder of the SA80 family comprises the L86 Light Support Weapon, the short - barrelled L22 carbine and the L98 Cadet rifle. The SA80 was the last in a long line of British weapons ( including the Lee -- Enfield family ) to come from the Royal Small Arms Factory, the national arms development and production facility at Enfield Lock. Contents 1 History 1.1 Development 1.2 Production 2 Design details 2.1 Operating mechanism 2.2 Features 2.3 Sights 2.4 Accessories 3 Variants 3.1 L85 Rifle 3.2 L86 LSW 3.3 L22 Carbine 3.4 L98 Cadet General Purpose Rifle 4 Deployment 4.1 Service and modification 5 Conflicts 6 Users 7 See also 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External links History Development The system 's history dates back to the late 1940s, when an ambitious programme to develop a new cartridge and new class of rifle was launched in the United Kingdom based on combat experience drawn from World War II. Two 7mm prototypes were built in a bullpup configuration, designated the EM - 1 and EM - 2. When NATO adopted the 7.62 × 51mm NATO rifle cartridge as the standard calibre for its service rifles, further development of these rifles was discontinued ( the British Army chose to adopt the 7.62 mm L1A1 SLR semi-automatic rifle, which is a licence - built version of the Belgian FN FAL ). In 1969, the Enfield factory began work on a brand new family of weapons, chambered in a newly designed British 4.85 × 49mm intermediate cartridge. While the experimental weapon family was very different from the EM - 2 in internal design and construction methods, its bullpup configuration with an optical sight was a clear influence on the design of what was to become the SA80. The system was to be composed of two weapons : the XL64E5 rifle ( also called the Enfield Individual Weapon ) and a light support weapon known as the XL65E4 light machine gun. The sheet metal construction, and the design of the bolt, bolt carrier, guide rods, gas system and the weapon 's disassembly showed strong similarities to the Armalite AR - 18 which was manufactured under licence from 1975 to 1983 by the Sterling Armaments Company of Dagenham, Essex, and which had been tested by the UK MoD in 1966 and 1969. During the development of the SA80, a bullpup conversion was made of an AR - 18 and a Stoner 63 at Enfield due to the fact they could be used with stocks folded / without stocks which allowed the bullpup conversion and were later chambered in the experimental 4.85 x49mm round. A bullpup conversion of the AR - 15 was previously considered but the buffer tube in stock prevented the idea. Technically, in the mid-1970s, the 4.85 × 49mm round was seen as superior to the then existing version of 5.56 mm M193 round in use by the US ( for the M16 / M16A1 ) and by other forces. ( This was the expressed view of trials team members whilst demonstrating the XL64E5 prototype at the British Army School of Infantry at Warminster. ) It should be noted that development of small - arms munitions have a long and continuous life and it was estimated by the trials specialists from Enfield that this weapon would ultimately be superior in the 4.85 mm configuration. For the 4.85 mm round, both propellant and projectile were at the beginning of their respective development curves. Also, weight for weight, more rounds of ammunition could be carried by an individual soldier -- a considerable advantage on the battlefield. It was regarded as probable at the time that the argument for the 5.56 mm standard within NATO had more to do with the economics involved. Over the lifetime of a small - arms weapon type, far more money is spent on the munitions than the weapons themselves. If the 5.56 mm supporters had lost the argument in favour of a British 4.85 mm round, the economic impact would have been very large and political pressure undoubtedly played a part in the final decision. In 1976, the prototypes were ready to undergo trials. However, after NATO 's decision to standardise ammunition among its members, Enfield engineers re-chambered the rifles to the American 5.56 × 45mm NATO M193 cartridge. The newly redesigned 5.56 mm version of the XL64E5 became known as the XL70E3. The left - handed XL68 was also re-chambered in 5.56 × 45mm as the XL78. The 5.56 mm light support weapon variant, the XL73E3, developed from the XL65E4, was noted for the full - length receiver extension with the bipod under the muzzle now indicative of the type. Further development out of the initial so - called `` Phase A '' pre-production series led to the XL85 and XL86. While the XL85E1 and XL86E1 were ultimately adopted as the L85 and L86 respectively, a number of additional test models were produced. The XL85E2 and XL86E2 were designed to an alternate build standard with 12 components different from E1 variants, including parts of the gas system, bolt, and magazine catch. Three series of variants were created for `` Environmental User Trials ''. XL85E3 and XL86E3 variants were developed with 24 modified parts, most notably a plastic safety plunger. The E4 's had 21 modified parts, no modification to the pistol grip, and an aluminium safety plunger, unlike the E3 variants. Lastly, the E5 variants had 9 modified parts in addition to those from the E3 / E4 variants. SA80 development was complicated from the start. One complication was at least three project staffing changes at the Royal Small Arms Factory, which resulted in repetition of testing several times. One problem with the design of the gun itself was that the cases would be ejected at constantly varying angles as it heated up and the rate of fire changed, resulting in a large ejection port. The conversion from 4.85 mm to 5.56 mm also caused a complication, as the rate of fire dropped dramatically as the gas port was left in the same position, but the pressure and time curve of the rounds were different. The 4.85 mm round was based on the 5.56 mm case in anticipation of the need to convert calibres. The barrel was changed easily, but the gas ports had to be enlarged considerably. This was made worse by the production of ammunition with power that gave a lower port pressure and rate - of - fire. Pressure problems had less of an effect on the LSW due to its longer barrel. Production The L85A1 GP rifle with a SUSAT scope attached to it After receiving feedback from users and incorporating the various design changes requested, including adapting the rifle for use with the heavier Belgian SS109 version of the 5.56 × 45mm round and improving reliability, the weapon system was accepted into service with the British Armed Forces in 1985 as the SA80. The SA80 family originally consisted of the L85A1 IW ( Individual Weapon ) and the L86A1 LSW ( Light Support Weapon ). The first rifle was issued on 2 October 1985 to Sergeant Gary Gavin, a 26 - year - old in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters. The SA80 family was designed and produced ( until 1988 ) by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock. In 1988, production of the rifle was transferred to the Royal Ordnance 's Nottingham Small Arms Facility ( later British Aerospace, Royal Ordnance ; now BAE Systems Land & Armaments ). A field - stripped L85A1 GP In 1994, production was officially completed. More than 350,000 L85A1 rifles and L86A1 light machine guns had been manufactured for the United Kingdom. As responsibility for the funding and supply of the home defence regiments of the British Overseas Territories ( which are only loosely integrated within the British Army ) has been handed to the local governments of the territories ( although the regiments themselves come under command of the national ( British ) government ), the SA80 was not automatically supplied to these units. The Falkland Islands Defence Force instead adopted the Steyr AUG while the Bermuda Regiment ( since 2015 the Royal Bermuda Regiment ) adopted the Ruger Mini-14 in 1983 ( although it has held small stocks of the L85A1 and L85A2 since the 1980s for the purpose of familiarisation training as many of its personnel attend courses or attachments in Britain ). The Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which is more closely integrated into British Army, adopted the SA80. In 2015, the Royal Bermuda Regiment replaced the Mini-14 with the L85A2. The L85 is also in use with the Jamaica Defence Force. Design details Close - up of an L85A2 with the polymer Magpul EMAG. Note the clear round counting window. A Royal Marine aims an L85A2 equipped with an L123A2 ( AG36 ) grenade launcher. A US Marine operating the bolt of an L85A1, 2000. Operating mechanism With the exception of the L98A1, the SA80 system is a selective fire gas - operated design that uses ignited powder gases bled through a port in the barrel to provide the weapon 's automation. The rifle uses a short - stroke gas piston system located above the barrel, which is fed gas through a three - position adjustable gas regulator. The first gas setting is used for normal operation, the second is for use in difficult environmental conditions, while the third setting prevents any gas from reaching the piston and is used to launch rifle grenades. The weapon uses a rotating cylindrical bolt that contains seven radially mounted locking splines, an extractor and casing ejector. The bolt 's rotation is controlled by a cam stud that slides inside a helical camming guide machined into the bolt carrier. Features The family is built in a bullpup layout ( the action is behind the trigger group ), with a forward - mounted pistol grip. The main advantage of this type of arrangement is the overall compactness of the weapon, which can be achieved without compromising the barrel length, hence the overall length of the L85 rifle is shorter than a carbine, but the barrel length is that of an assault rifle. However, the adoption of this layout also means that the rifle must be used exclusively right - handed since the ejection port and cocking handle ( which reciprocates during firing ) are on the right side of the receiver, making aimed fire from the left shoulder difficult. This can also give rise to a tactical disadvantage when firing around the left side of cover, where the shooter must expose the majority of his body. However left shoulder firing can be achieved by tilting the right hand side of the rifle downwards, reducing the impediments of the cocking handle and the ejection port. The SA80 family is hammer - fired and has a trigger mechanism with a fire - control selector that enables semi-automatic fire and fully automatic fire ( the fire selector lever is located at the left side of the receiver, just aft of the magazine ). A cross bolt type safety prevents accidental firing and is located above the trigger ; the `` safe '' setting blocks the movement of the trigger. The L85 rifle features a barrel with a slotted flash suppressor, which also serves as a mounting base for attaching and launching RGGS rifle grenades, attaching a blank - firing adaptor or a bayonet. The weapons are fed from a STANAG magazine, usually with a 30 - round capacity. The magazine release button is placed above the magazine housing, on the left side of the receiver. When the last cartridge is fired from the magazine, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly lock to the rear. The weapon 's receiver is made from stamped sheet steel, reinforced with welded and riveted machined steel inserts. Synthetics were also used ( i.e. the handguards, pistol grip, buttpad and cheek rest were all fabricated from nylon ). A Picatinny railed handguard was also developed for the type. Sights View through a SUSAT sight. Rifles used by the Royal Marines, British Army infantry soldiers ( and other soldiers with a dismounted close combat role ) and the RAF Regiment are equipped with a SUSAT ( Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux ) optical sight, with a fixed 4 × magnification and an illuminated aiming pointer powered by a variable tritium light source ( as of 2006 almost all British Army personnel deployed on operations have been issued SUSATs ). Mounted on the SUSAT 's one - piece, pressure die - cast aluminium body are a set of back - up iron sights that consist of a front blade and small rear aperture. Rifles used with other branches of the armed forces when not on operations are configured with fixed iron sights, consisting of a flip rear aperture housed inside the carrying handle and a forward post vertical blade foresight, installed on a bracket above the gas block. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage, and the foresight -- elevation. In place of the SUSAT, a passive night vision CWS scope can be used, and also -- independent of the SUSAT -- a laser pointer. L85A2 carrying upgraded Laser Light Module Mk 3 with 800 m range. Weapons used by some Royal Marines, Infantry, RAF Regiment, Ministry of Defence Police and other soldiers with a dismounted close combat role in operations in Afghanistan have had the SUSAT replaced with the Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight ( ACOG ). In 2011, the Ministry of Defence began issuing ELCAN SpecterOS 4 × Lightweight Day Sights ( LDS ) in an effort to replace ageing SUSAT units across the British Armed Forces, forming the first stage of the FIST infantry enhancement project. In order to mount the new sight, the weapon has been provided with an adapter to convert the existing sight rail to the Picatinny standard, in keeping with the updated handguard. The FIST project has also seen upgrades to the existing Qioptiq CWS ( 4 × ) and Maxi - Kite ( 6 × ) night vision scopes, and the introduction of the FIST Thermal Sight, following operational experience with the VIPIR - 2 + thermal weapon sight in Afghanistan. All of the new FIST weapon sights have the capacity to accept Shield 's Close Quarter Battlesight reflex sight. Accessories Bayonet attached to an L85A2 rifle. Note the barrel to the left. The L85 is supplied with a sling, blank - firing adaptor, cleaning kit and a blade - type bayonet, which coupled with the sheath can double as a wire cutter ( the sheath contains a small saw and sharpening stone ). The rifle can be adapted to use. 22 Long Rifle training ammunition with a special conversion kit. The Small Arms Weapons Effects Simulator can be used on the L85 when in training with blank ammunition. The rifle variant also accommodates a 40 mm under - barrel grenade launcher such as Heckler & Koch AG - 36 40 mm grenade launcher variants. Variants There are four main variants that make up the SA80 family : the L85 IW Rifle, the L86 Light Support Weapon, the L22 Carbine and the L98 Cadet rifle. The family has currently consists of two major models, A1 variants being the first issue weapons, and A2 distinguishing weapons which have undergone H&K upgrades. The L and A in the weapon title mean Number and Mark I.e. Number 85 Mark 1 = L85A1. L85 rifle A Royal Netherlands Marine Corps captain fires the L85A2 The L85 IW ( `` Individual Weapon '' ; formally, Rifle, 5.56 mm, L85A2 ), is the standard rifle for the British armed forces. On operations with ground close combat units ( Infantry, Royal Marines, RAF Regiment ), the rifle is often fitted with an LLM01 Laser Light Module. The L85A2 can also mount the L123A2 UGL 40 mm underbarrel grenade launcher ( British variant of the H&K AG36 ). The addition of the underbarrel grenade launcher adds another 3.30 lb ( 1.49 kg ) to the L85A2 's weight. Royal Marine with L85A2 with Picatinny rail Magazines issued with the L85A1 were aluminium, and not very robust. There are now three types of magazine issued with the L85A2, the most recent being the plastic Magpul EMAG purchased as an Urgent Operational Requirement ( UOR ), the other two are of steel construction with a stainless steel follower. The main variant is for live ammunition, and the other is exclusively used for blank ammunition. The blank variant is identified by yellow stripes on the magazine, and is designed to prevent the loading of live rounds. As blank rounds are shorter than live rounds, live rounds will not physically fit into the blank magazine. Blank rounds will fit into the normal magazine, but their slightly shorter length creates problems with jamming. From 2007, an upgrade including the provision of ACOGs, a new handguard incorporating Picatinny rails ( with optional hand grip / bipod ), and a new vortex style flash eliminator is being introduced for use by selected units. L86 LSW L86 LSW LSW during training The L86A1 LSW ( `` Light Support Weapon '' ) is a magazine - fed squad automatic weapon originally intended to provide fire support at a fireteam level. Its barrel is longer than the L85A1 and has a shorter handguard with a support stock with lightening holes protruding from the front holding a bipod. The stock has a shoulder strap and rear vertical grip. The weapon is otherwise identical to the L85 version on which it is based, and the same 30 - round magazines and sighting systems are used. Like the L85 rifle, it has a selector on the left side behind the magazine housing, enabling either single shots or automatic fire. The bolt and trigger system are modified, so the gun can be fired from open bolt. The increased barrel length, bipod and the optical performance of the SUSAT give the weapon excellent accuracy, increased muzzle velocity and further stabilizes the bullet, giving a greater effective range. From its inception, the L86 was a target of criticism on much the same basis as the L85. The LSW has the additional issue ( shared by any light support weapon derived from a rifle, for example the heavy - barrel FN FAL ) of its inability to deliver sustained automatic fire as it lacks a quick - change barrel, and belt feed. For a time, the primary use of the LSW shifted to that of a marksman 's weapon within many infantry sections, capable of providing precision fire at ranges of over 600 m ; however, it was replaced in this role by the Rifle, 7.62 mm L129A1. The role of a light support weapon is instead filled by the L110A2 Light Machine Gun FN Minimi, which is a belt fed weapon with a quick - change barrel. The L86A1 was upgraded to the L86A2 at the same time as L85A1 rifles were upgraded to L85A2 standards, undergoing the same set of modifications. L22 carbine Carbine variant as used by an aircrewman. There have been three attempts at a carbine version of the L85. The first was in 1989 ( length overall 556 mm, barrel length 289 mm ). The second attempt, which was in 1994, used the standard L86 LSW handguard and a 17.4 - inch barrel ( length overall 709 mm, barrel length 442 mm ). The third attempt ( 2003 -- 2004 ) is also the only one to officially be adopted -- the L22. This resembles the 1989 model but has all the necessary A2 upgrades, and has a 318 mm ( 12.5 in ) barrel and an overall length of 585 mm. Around 1,500 were `` manufactured '' from surplus L86 LSWs ; more were built with the increased demand. Due to the shortened barrel ( 12.5 in ), it is less accurate and less powerful, especially at long ranges. Because there is no handguard, these guns are outfitted with a vertical front grip. It exists only in A2 variants as they were made to A2 standard. Initially issued to tank and armoured vehicle crews for emergency action out of vehicle, the L22 has been seen in the hands of the Royal Marines Fleet Protection Group and pilots of all three services due to its compact size. L98 Cadet general purpose rifle Cadet with an L98A1 GP The L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle was a general - purpose ( GP ) rifle used by the Combined Cadet Force and Sea, Royal Marine, Army Cadet Force and Air Cadets in the United Kingdom. It was introduced in 1987 to replace the. 303 Lee -- Enfield No 4 rifles and. 303 Bren guns used for weapons training. The L98A1 rifle began a phased decommission in early 2009 and is now no longer in use. UK cadet forces have now received the updated L98A2 rifles. The L98A1 was similar to the L85A1, but lacked the gas components. It was a manually operated, single - shot rifle, with a cocking handle extension piece mounted on the right side of the weapon, and was cocked with the right hand. It was also fitted with adjustable iron sights. Deployment The SA80 has been used in all conflicts in which the British Armed Forces have been involved since its introduction in the early 1980s. Deployments include Northern Ireland, the First Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq. When the British went into battle with fixed bayonets on the SA80 in Iraq, it was the first time fixed bayonets had been used by British troops since the Falklands War. On several occasions, fixed bayonets have been used during the Afghanistan conflict also. Service and modification Soon after being adopted for service, problems began to surface :... the first five years of this rifle 's service have been disastrous. A number of manufacturing defects showed up in service conditions, and it was not until the closure of the RSAF at Enfield and the setting up of an entirely new production line, with new computer - controlled machine tools, at the new RSAF Nottingham, that the quality of the production weapons began to improve. It will take some time for the poor reputation gained by the initial issue weapons to be overcome ; the only consolation is that the same sort of thing has happened to other military rifles in the past, and they have managed to live down their early reputation and prove their innate reliability. It is to be hoped that the L85A1 will do so as well. -- Ian V. Hogg, 1990 When the L85A1 and L86A1 were first sent into major combat during the Gulf War, individual performance was appalling. The L85A1 proved unreliable in semi-auto mode, and slightly better in full - auto, while the L86A1 performed the opposite. Specific complaints included : the poor quality plastic furniture fell apart and the gun was damaged easily ; the magazine release catch was easily knocked accidentally and dropped the magazine ; the catch on the housing over the gas mechanism was too weak and constantly popped open, so it had to be taped down ; only 26 -- 28 rounds could be loaded in a magazine because the springs were weak, and it also had to be kept very clean and the lips checked for dents ; the LSW had a small magazine capacity for its role and overheated after 120 -- 150 rounds fired in bursts ; the weapons were difficult to strip and reassemble, with the gas plug easily jamming in place and requiring an armorer to remove ; and ergonomic issues related to the safety catch, cocking lever, and the location and stiffness of the fire selector switch. The SA80 initially gained a poor reputation amongst British soldiers as being unreliable and fragile, a fact picked up by the UK media, entertainment industry, and members of the House of Lords. The writer and former soldier Andy McNab said in his book Bravo Two Zero that the British Army procured a `` Rolls - Royce in the SA80, albeit a prototype Rolls - Royce ''. Immediately after the first Gulf war ( Operation Granby ), the UK Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) commissioned the LANDSET Report ( officially entitled `` Equipment Performance ( SA80 ) During Operation Granby ( The Gulf War ) '' ), into the effectiveness of the L85A1 IW and L86A1 LSW. This report criticised the acceptance of the weapon into service. Neither weapon had managed to pass the sand trials and both frequently jammed. The mechanism of both weapons needed to be well lubricated as the weapon became prone to seizure if fired `` dry '', yet in sandy condition the lubricated weapon became unreliable due to the lubricant attracting sand into the moving parts. The LANDSET report identified in excess of 50 faults, most notably the magazine release catch, which could easily be caught on clothing and therefore accidentally release the magazine ; the plastic safety plunger which became brittle in cold climates ; and firing pins that were not up to repeated use, and prone to fracture if used in automatic fire mode. Although this report identified over 50 faults, and some of the rifle 's problems were corrected as a result ( e.g. the magazine release guard and trigger ), these modifications addressed only seven of these issues and complaints over reliability in service continued. The Ministry of Defence applied various minor fixes to problems in the guns or simply denied that a problem existed. The MoD finally began to address issues with the SA80 family in 1992 but procuring entirely new weapons was considered too expensive. A Ministry of Defence Police officer on duty with an L85A2. As a result, a more extensive modification programme was executed. In 2000, Heckler & Koch, at that time owned by the British defence conglomerate BAE Systems, was contracted to upgrade the SA80 family of weapons. Two hundred thousand SA80s were re-manufactured at a cost of £ 400 each, producing the A2 variant. Changes focused primarily on improving reliability and include : a redesigned cocking handle, modified bolt, extractor and a redesigned hammer assembly that produces a slight delay in the hammer 's operation in continuous fire mode, improving reliability and stability. There were equivalent LSW and carbine modifications. The British Ministry of Defence describes the L85A2 revision as `` modified in light of operational experience... the most reliable weapons of their type in the world ''. Armed Forces trials indicated extremely good reliability over a range of climates for various operational scenarios, though with a decline in reliability in hot, and especially hot and dry conditions. The L85A2 has achieved an average reliability rate of 25,200 mean rounds between failure, and the L86A2 achieved 12,897 mean rounds between failures. Both weapons have higher reliability rates in cold / dry, temperate, and hot / wet conditions ( over 31,500 MRBF for L85A2 ), but lower rates in hot / dry environments. The minimum expected life of A2 components is 10,000 rounds, meaning they may never suffer stoppages during their lifetimes. The L85A1 was required to be able to fire 120 rounds over 24 hours, and the L86A1 was required to fire 800 rounds in 24 hours. The L85A2 is required to fire 150 rounds in 8 minutes 40 seconds, and the L86A2 is required to fire 960 rounds in 36 minutes. The first A2 - style SA80 weapons were rushed into action in Afghanistan in December 2001, and all 200,000 were converted by February 2006. Three to four thousand weapons were converted per month. Despite the modifications, reports started to emerge that the L85A2 was still jamming. In reality, there were few jams and problems that were much less serious than they were made out to be, stemming from isolated cases of soldiers not cleaning their weapons correctly. The modified A2 variants are distinguished by the `` HK A2 '' marking on the top of the weapon just forward of the buttplate and the distinctive comma - shaped cocking handle ( shaped to aid the ejection of the empty round casing and prevent stoppages ). A forward Picatinny accessories rail supplied by Daniel Defense was incorporated from 2008. The Magpul Industries polymer EMAG magazine was introduced from 2011 to replace the Heckler & Koch steel STANAG 4179 magazine. Continued testing of the L85A2 in adverse conditions demonstrates its reliability over contemporary rifles, including the M16. Although it is heavier than most conventional and more modern bullpup rifles, its full - length barrel gives higher muzzle velocities and better terminal performance than both the M4 and the M16. Rounds from an M4 will only reliably fragment out to 50 -- 100 metres, while the L85A2 and M16 allowed fragmentation out to 150 -- 200 metres and the L86A2 has an even longer fragmentation range. Despite these modifications, the L86A2 did not overcome efforts to replace it with a belt - fed machine gun. British troops were issued with L110A1 machine guns to add suppressive fire out to 300 metres ; despite these officially being supplementary weapons, they all but replaced the L86. The L129 was issued to provide increased terminal effect at long range, to compensate for the limitations of both L85 and L86 weapons. Conflicts The SA80 has been used in the following conflicts : The Troubles Operation Granby Gulf War Bosnian War Kosovo War Sierra Leone Civil War Operation Veritas Afghanistan War Operation Telic Iraq War Users Bolivia : Used by Special Forces and the Bolivian National Police Jamaica : Used since 1992. Mozambique : Sold as part of British military aid. Nepal : Sold as part of British military aid. Papua New Guinea Sierra Leone : Sold as part of British military aid. United Kingdom. Standard issue : British Armed Forces. Bermuda ( British Overseas Territory ) : 400 L85A2 rifles donated by the MOD to the Royal Bermuda Regiment in August 2015 Gibraltar ( British Overseas Territory ) : Standard issue to the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Zimbabwe : Sold as part of British military aid. See also British military rifles Modern equipment of the British Army Steyr AUG Austrian bullpup assault rifle. FAMAS French bullpup assault rifle. F2000 Belgian bullpup assault rifle. Tavor Israeli bullpup assault rifle. QBZ - 95 Chinese bullpup assault rifle. Table of handgun and rifle cartridges List of bullpup firearms List of assault rifles List of machine guns List of carbines References Jump up ^ `` Denis Ferranti - A Global Defence Specialist - Denis Ferranti Group ''. dferrantigroup.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` High Precision Machined Parts - Denis Ferranti Machining ''. www.dferrantimachining.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ Janes Defence Weekly, 2 Oct 13, page 6, UK Considers Small Arms Updates, Nick Brown Jump up ^ `` Assault rifle ( automatic ) Enfield SA - 80 / L85A1 / L85A2 ''. tonnel-ufo.ru. Retrieved 30 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : Meek, James ( 10 October 2002 ), `` Off Target '', The Guardian `` Many of the key parts of the SA80 were copied from the US Armalite AR18, then made in Britain under licence by the Sterling gun factory in Dagenham, using the pressed - steel technique. '' Jump up ^ A Historical Review of Armalite : Edition of 4 January 2010 ( PDF ), ArmaLite Inc., archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2014 - 06 - 12, It 's especially interesting to note that the RSAF 's later 5.56 mm rifle, the SA - 80, ( later adopted as the L85 ) was nothing more than a bullpup version of the AR - 180 Jump up ^ Hogg, Ian V. ; Weeks, John ( 1981 ), Military Small Arms of the 20th Century ( 4th ed. ), ISBN 0 - 910676 - 28 - 3 Jump up ^ Macrae, Callum ( 23 August 1992 ), `` How the Army got second best '', The Observer, via www.historyofwar.org, p. 7, In 1976 Edmiston and his designer, Frank Waters, saw the prototype SA80 at the British Army Equipment Exhibition in Aldershot. It was a bullpup design, a squat rifle with a minimal butt, and its operation looked curiously familiar. ' Frank was allowed to take it apart, ' Edmiston told The Observer. ' He found our bolt carrier, our clipazine, and parts out of our gun. These were n't even copies. They had bought some of our guns and were using the parts to make the SA80 prototype. ' A former weapons designer with Royal Ordnance confirmed that claim. He added that the original prototypes, basically an amalgam of the Armalite AR18 and the bullpup design of the old RO EM2, were good, promising guns... ' but the design was fiddled with by committees in the MoD and Royal Ordnance '. The gun, he says, has never been the same since. ^ Jump up to : Dolazell, Harry, `` Armalite / Sterling AR - 18 5.56 mm Rifle '', www.gunmart.net, if you ever take an SA80 apart, or see a picture of one fully disassembled, then look very closely at the bolt and gas system, as it 's almost a direct copy of the old AR - 18 system Jump up ^ A Historical Review of Armalite : Edition of 4 January 2010 ( PDF ), ArmaLite Inc., archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2014 - 06 - 12, The AR - 18 suffered similar results in the United Kingdom as well. The Ministry of Defence first evaluated the AR - 18 in March 1966... A Howa version was evaluated by MOD in January 1969. Jump up ^ The World 's Assault Rifles by Gary Paul Johnston, Thomas B. Nelson, Chapter 29 Great Britain Jump up ^ `` SA80 History : The First Mockups ( Sterling and Stoner ) ''. forgottenweapons.com. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` British Enfield SA80 Part 1 : Mock - ups -- Armament Research Services ''. armamentresearch.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ The World 's Assault Rifles by Gary Paul Johnston, Thomas B. Nelson, Chapter 67 Jump up ^ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/24626151/Guns/enfieldseffort.jpg Jump up ^ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/24626151/Guns/Stoner.jpg Jump up ^ `` SA80 History : XL70 Series Final Prototypes ( Individual Weapon and LSW ) ''. forgottenweapons.com. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : Wetters - Chronology. `` The 5.56 X 45mm : 1974 -- 1985 -- A Chronology of Development ''. Daniel Watters, The Gun Zone. Retrieved 2007 - 05 - 05. Jump up ^ `` SA80 Series : The Pre-Production XL85 and XL86 ''. forgottenweapons.com. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` SA80 ( Small Arms for the 1980s ) : The Sorry Saga of the British Bulldog 's Bullpup ''. www.historyofwar.org. Retrieved 30 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : Williams, Anthony G., SA80 : Mistake Or Maligned ^ Jump up to : `` Rifles worth $1.4 m donated to Regiment - The Royal Gazette : Bermuda News ''. royalgazette.com. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : Watters, Daniel. `` The 5.56 X 45mm : 1990 -- 1994 ''. Retrieved 15 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` Desider magazine -- Issue 36 '' ( PDF ). Ministry of Defence. Jump up ^ `` Shield CQB ''. Retrieved 23 December 2014. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 08 - 28. Jump up ^ `` SA80 History : L85 A1 vs A2 ( and the coming A3 ) ''. forgottenweapons.com. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Kit Magazine '' ( PDF ). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 2008 - 01 - 09. Jump up ^ `` EFRS - a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Defence '' ( PDF ). whatdotheyknow.com. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Magpul 's EMAG gets 2nd window ; Brits sign up for 1 million, thanks ''. Jump up ^ `` Supply of Handguards and Downgrips for SA80A2 ''. European Defence Agency. The Combat Support Equipment Integrated Project Team ( CSE IPT ), part of the Ministry of Defence United Kingdom, has a requirement for design, production and supply of a new handguard and downgrip for the SA80A2 Rifle to give improved grip capability. There is a possible requirement for up to quantity 8,000 of each item for Urgent Operational Requirements. There is a further possible requirement for up to quantity 15,000 to replace in service equipment. Jump up ^ `` Kit Magazine, Issue 62 Winter 2007 '' ( PDF ). Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 16. This technology is here now ! So if you see strange - looking SA80s being carried by strange - looking men, then rest assured, those users that had the requirement, had the make - over, at a price. ^ Jump up to : Hastings, Max ( 2004 - 07 - 31 ). `` Do n't Buy British ''. London : The Guardian. Retrieved 2009 - 04 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Light Support Weapon ( LSW ) ''. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 25. LSW has a heavier and longer barrel allowing greater muzzle velocity and accuracy than the standard SA80. Jump up ^ `` Taking Back The Infantry Half - km : Britain 's L129A1 ''. 8 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` SA80 History : L22A2 and Experimental L85 Carbines ''. forgottenweapons.com. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ Wyatt, Caroline ( 28 April 2009 ). `` Remembering the Battle of Al Amara ''. BBC News. Retrieved 9 April 2011. Jump up ^ Off Target -- The Guardian, 10 October 2002. Jump up ^ for example the Bremner, Bird and Fortune satirical comedy documentary Between Iraq and a Hard Place included the line : `` The SA80 is a lethal weapon, especially for anyone trying to fire it '', similar to a description of the Vietnam War era M16. Jump up ^ `` The Defence Estimates 1990 ''. Retrieved 23 December 2014. Jump up ^ Raw, Steve. The Last Enfield : SA80 -- The Reluctant Rifle, Collector Grade Publications, Cobourg, Ontario, 2003, pp. 172 -- 3. ^ Jump up to : `` SA80 individual weapon ''. Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2009 - 04 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Troops in Afghanistan get new lightweight rifle magazines ''. www.gov.uk. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Troops in Afghanistan get new lightweight rifle magazines ''. Jump up ^ Johnson, Steve ( 31 December 2012 ). `` SA80 in Bolivia ''. The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 16 March 2014. Jump up ^ ncoicinnet. `` Web Site of the Jamaica Defence Force ''. Retrieved 23 December 2014. ^ Jump up to : SA80 Assault Rifles by Neil Grant, page 75. Jump up ^ Alpers, Philip ( 2010 ). Karp, Aaron, ed. The Politics of Destroying Surplus Small Arms : Inconspicuous Disarmament. Abingdon - on - Thames : Routledge Books. pp. 168 -- 169. ISBN 978 - 0 - 415 - 49461 - 8. Jump up ^ `` Light Support Weapon ( LSW ) ''. Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2009 - 04 - 22. Bibliography Raw, Steve. The Last Enfield SA80 - the Reluctant Rifle. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada : Collector Grade Publications Incorporated, 2003. ISBN 0 - 88935 - 303 - 4. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to SA80. SA80 A2 L85 Individual Weapon at Army.mod.uk Current UK individual weapons and cartridges Pistols L9A1 L106A1 L117A2 L131A1 Assault rifles carbines Designated marksman rifles L85A2 IW L86A2 LSW L22A2 L129A1 L119A1 HK 417 Sniper rifles Arctic Warfare Covert L96A1, L118A1 L115A1, L115A3 L121A1 L82A1 Submachine guns L80A1 ( MP5K ), L90A1 ( MP5K A1 ) L91A1 ( MP5 A2 / A3 ), L92A1 ( MP5 SD2 / SD3 ) Shotguns L74A1 L128A1 Machine guns L108A1, L110A1 L7A2 L2A1 ( M2HB ), L111A1 ( M2HB - QCB ) Grenade non-lethal launchers L17A1 / A2 L67A1 L134A1 Rockets LASM LAW 80 M3 Carl Gustav L2A1 ( ILAW ) L142A1 ( AT4CS HP ) Missiles MILAN FGM - 148 Javelin Starstreak SAM ( shoulder launched or 3 - shot multiple launcher ) Mortars L9A1 M6 - 640 L16A2 Modern cartridges used 5.56 × 45mm NATO 7.62 × 51mm NATO 12.7 × 99mm NATO. 338 Lapua 9 × 19mm Parabellum 12 gauge Bullpup firearms Rifles A-91 Advanced Individual Combat Weapon Armtech C30R ASh - 12.7 BMCR Bushmaster M17S EM - 2 EM - 4 EMERK FAMAS FB MSBS FN F2000 Heckler & Koch G11 HS Produkt VHS Tavor TAR - 21 Tavor X95 Interdynamics MKR K - 3 KAL1 GPIR Kel - Tec RDB Kel - Tec RFB KH - 2002 L64 / 65 L85 L98 LA - 1 LA - 4 LAPA FA - 03 Magpul PDR MAS - 54B Model 45A NIVA XM1970 Norinco Type 86S OTs - 14 Groza PAPOP QBZ - 95 S&T Daewoo XK8 SA80 SAR 21 Sieg SLEM - 1 Steyr ACR Steyr AUG TKB - 011 TKB - 0146 TKB - 022PM TKB - 059 TKB - 408 Type 11 Valmet M82 VB Berapi LP06 Vektor CR - 21 Vepr W + F C42 ( Stgw 90 `` kurz Version C 2 '' ) Walther G22 Carbines AGM - 1 L22 Thorneycroft Machine guns L86 LSW Pecheneg Bullpup QBB - 95 SAR 21 LMG Steyr AUG HBAR Steyr AUG LMG Steyr AUG LMG - T Submachine guns FN P90 Tavor X95 SMG JS 9 mm QCW - 05 Steyr AUG Para Steyr AUG A3 Para XS Sniper rifles Bor Desert Tactical Arms Stealth Recon Scout SVU DSR - Precision GmbH DSR - 1 M89SR OTs - 48K QBU - 88 VSSK Vykhlop Walther WA 2000 Anti-materiel rifles Barrett M90 Barrett M95 Barrett XM500 Denel NTW - 20 DSR - Precision GmbH DSR - 50 Falcon Gepárd KSVK Mambi MICOR Leader 50 RT - 20 Solothurn S - 18 / 100 Solothurn S - 18 / 1000 Solothurn S - 18 / 1100 Steyr IWS 2000 WKW Wilk Shotguns ENARM Pentagun Franchi mod. 410 Heckler & Koch HK CAWS High Standard Model 10 Kel - Tec KSG Kushnapup KS - 23K Mossberg 500 / 590 Bullpup NeoStead 2000 Pancor Jackhammer Standard Manufacturing DP - 12 UTAS UTS - 15 Other ADS amphibious rifle Remington XP - 100 S&T Daewoo K11 Special Purpose Individual Weapon XM25 CDTE XM29 OICW Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SA80&oldid=799215872 '' Categories : 5.56 mm firearms Assault rifles Bullpup rifles Light machine guns Rifles of the United Kingdom Cold War weapons of the United Kingdom Hidden categories : Pages using deprecated image syntax All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2009 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from August 2017 Use dmy dates from September 2010 Talk Variants Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano עברית Latviešu Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Simple English کوردی Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 6 September 2017, at 10 : 45. 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Question: when did the british army start using the sa80
Answer: 1987