NZ Army modernisation continues
The New Zealand government has confirmed the acquisition of new Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) assault rifles in an announcement on 8 December.
Some 8,800 of these 5.56mm weapons, to be known locally as the Modular Assault Rifle System - Light (MARS-L), will replace the Steyr AUG A1 in NZ Army service that were introduced in 1988. Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee commented, ‘It gives our personnel a weapon they can rely on in any situation.’
The MARS-L, believed to be based on the CQB16 rifle, includes optical day and night sights, a detachable 40mm grenade launcher and ancillaries such as
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