Editing SA80 (section)

===A3 upgrade programme===
[[File:New SA80 A3 Assault Rifle MOD 45163882.jpg|thumb|L85A3 with a vertical fire grip]]
The L85A3 was first unveiled in prototype form in September 2016<ref>{{cite web|author=Miles |url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/09/12/wont-die-l85a3-prototypes-released-public/|title=Why won't you die? L85A3 prototype photos released to public |date=12 September 2016|work=The Firearm Blog |publisher=Carbon Media Group}}</ref> with working models on display in September 2017 at the Defence and Security Equipment International event<ref>{{cite web |first=Matthew |last=Moss |url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/09/20/dsei17-hk-unveil-upgrades-british-sa80/|title=DSEI17 – H&K Unveil Upgrades to British SA80 |date=20 September 2017|work=The Firearm Blog |publisher=Carbon Media Group}}</ref> and official adoption taking place in 2018.<ref name=SA80A3>{{cite web|url=http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?shop=dae&modele=release&prod=192313&cat=3|title=SA80 Rifle Gets An Upgrade |website=www.defense-aerospace.com |quote=(Source: British Army; issued April 10, 2018) |publisher=Giovanni de Briganti}}</ref> The changes from the SA80A2 design include a modification to the upper receiver and a full-length rail system for optional add-ons such as a vertical foregrip, laser pointer and torch. It also includes a weight saving of 100&nbsp;g and a new Flat Dark Earth coating offering improved durability and better camouflage across various environments. The Mid Life Improvement (MLI) project received an initial investment of £5.4 million to have 5,000 weapons upgraded initially, with plans for more weapons to be upgraded in the future. The MLI project should see the weapon in service with the British military beyond 2025.<ref name=MLI>{{cite press release|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-armys-rifle-set-for-multi-million-pound-upgrade|title=British Army's rifle set for multi-million-pound upgrade|publisher=Ministry of Defence| date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Oliver |last=Steward |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/l85a3-rifle-refuses-give/|title=L85A3: The rifle that refuses to give up|date=5 January 2018 |work=UK Defence Journal <!--not a journal -->}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholls |first1=Dominic |last2=Dias |first2=Duarte |title=New British Army rifle is among world's 'most lethal' weapons, military chiefs say |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/02/new-british-army-rifle-among-worlds-lethal-weapons-military/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/02/new-british-army-rifle-among-worlds-lethal-weapons-military/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=3 November 2018 |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=2 November 2018|url-access=subscription}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Only the L85 rifle was announced as being upgraded; the L86 LSW would be withdrawn from use.<ref name=SOLDIERMAG>{{cite web|access-date=9 August 2018|publisher=[[British Army]]|title=Soldier Magazine|url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/8c19e238#/8c19e238/16|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811155452/http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/8c19e238#/8c19e238/16|url-status=dead}}</ref> The A3 received further upgrades in late 2020 following feedback from soldiers. These upgrades mainly included improvements to the ergonomics of the handguard and a switch from Heckler & Koch's HKey accessory attachment system to [[Magpul Industries|Magpul]]'s [[M-LOK]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Muncey |first1=Steve |title=Handy Additions: Soldiers' input leads to rapid improvemenst of the SA80 A3 |url=https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=1fe0b7a6-b41d-4c08-89a8-2f6cf0fd2868 |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=Soldier Magazine |publisher=The British Army |date=August 2020}}</ref>