Australia fields new rifle
Thales Australia has received a sizeable order to manufacture new 5.56mm rifles for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the auspices of Project Land 125 Phase 3C.
The Australian company announced conclusion of the deal on 4 August, stating it was worth A$100 million ($73.6 million). The contract covers EF88 rifles, SL40 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers and spare parts.
Manufacture of approximately 30,000 rifles and 2,500 grenade launchers will occur at the Thales Australia facility in Lithgow, New South Wales. Thales said in a statement, ‘Deliveries to the ADF will begin in the next few weeks and phased over
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