EF88 completes first deployment
The Australian Defence Force’s new service rifle, the Enhanced F88 (EF88), has completed its first full operational deployment, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 7 November.
Task Group Taji 5, deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Okra, reported that the EF88 operated effectively in the extreme heat and the dusty conditions of Iraq.
The EF88 was brought into service mid-2016 for selected units.
Major Timothy Soper, the Officer Commanding Task Group Taji Logistics Company, said the EF88’s superior accuracy, robustness and weight identified during testing and trials have been confirmed in its first full operational deployment.
Soper said: ‘The tiered design approach applied to the EF88 has resulted in a common system capable of being tailored to land combatant role and task. Pre-deployment and deployed combat shooting training has seen enhanced accuracy and increased lethality through improved effective ranges across the variety of Task Group Taji services, corps and trades.’
The EF88 is part of an evolution of the Austeyr bull-pup assault rifles introduced into Australian service in 1988 as the army retired the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Czech government developing a plan for air defence beyond 2030 alongside NATO integration]()
Czech government developing a plan for air defence beyond 2030 alongside NATO integration
The Czech Armed Forces is set to receive four Israeli-made SPYDER long-range missile defence systems, the first of which was delivered earlier this year. They will be a key part of the country’s multilayered air defence system.
-
![How AI and robotics drive innovation in land-based defence]()
How AI and robotics drive innovation in land-based defence
The future on the frontlines: automation and AI isn’t just about improving efficiency or driving down labour cost - for Pearson Engineering it’s everything.
-
![How do land and air defense forces defend against complex threats?]()
How do land and air defense forces defend against complex threats?
Learn how RTX systems defend against complex attacks from adversaries including hostile drones, and multi-range missiles.
-
![Hundreds of Boxers with Puma turrets ordered for Dutch and German forces]()
Hundreds of Boxers with Puma turrets ordered for Dutch and German forces
The order is for 270 vehicles, 222 of which are infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) known as Schakal (Jackal), which integrates the advanced Puma IFV RCT30 turret onto the Boxer chassis.
