Israeli companies participating in a prestigious small-arms tender for British Army
IsraelDefense has learned that Israel’s Emtan is taking part in a tender to replace 10,000 assault rifles of the British special units worth up to £90 million. It is estimated that IWI is also bidding in this tender
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 02/11/2021
At the beginning of August this year, IsraelDefense reported that the British Army is looking for a new assault rifle for its Special Operations Brigade. The British government has issued a tender for the purchase of an initial batch of about 10,000 new rifles, which will be different from the Army's standard SA80. Currently, elements across the UK’s Special Forces are equipped with a mixture of L119A1/A2 carbines and L85A2 rifles. The new rifle will likely be issued to some existing units as well as the new four battalion-strong brigade.
Now, IsraelDefense has learned that at least 15 of the world's leading companies are participating in this prestigious tender, the value of which can reach up to a sum of 90 million pounds. Among the companies is also the Israeli company from North Israel "Emtan" as well as well-known companies such as Heckler & Koch, FN, LMT, Zig Sauer and more. In our opinion, the Israeli company IWI is also bidding in this tender.
Experts estimate that this tender is a kind of official announcement by the British Army that it is leaving the Bullpup configuration guns and will now use guns from the AR15/M4 families. This is not an immediate process. The tender is currently only in its RFI phase and at the beginning of 2022 a decision will be made regarding the final list of bidders. Delivery of the new rifles is expected only from 2025 onwards.
IsraelDefense has learned that Israel’s Emtan is taking part in a tender to replace 10,000 assault rifles of the British special units worth up to £90 million. It is estimated that IWI is also bidding in this tender
At the beginning of August this year, IsraelDefense reported that the British Army is looking for a new assault rifle for its Special Operations Brigade. The British government has issued a tender for the purchase of an initial batch of about 10,000 new rifles, which will be different from the Army's standard SA80. Currently, elements across the UK’s Special Forces are equipped with a mixture of L119A1/A2 carbines and L85A2 rifles. The new rifle will likely be issued to some existing units as well as the new four battalion-strong brigade.
Now, IsraelDefense has learned that at least 15 of the world's leading companies are participating in this prestigious tender, the value of which can reach up to a sum of 90 million pounds. Among the companies is also the Israeli company from North Israel "Emtan" as well as well-known companies such as Heckler & Koch, FN, LMT, Zig Sauer and more. In our opinion, the Israeli company IWI is also bidding in this tender.
Experts estimate that this tender is a kind of official announcement by the British Army that it is leaving the Bullpup configuration guns and will now use guns from the AR15/M4 families. This is not an immediate process. The tender is currently only in its RFI phase and at the beginning of 2022 a decision will be made regarding the final list of bidders. Delivery of the new rifles is expected only from 2025 onwards.
