Editing SA80 (section)

==Production==
===Accepted into service: 5.56×45mm, L85A1, L86A1, L98A1===
{{multiple image
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After receiving feedback from users and incorporating the various design changes requested, including adapting the rifle for use with the heavier Belgian SS109 version of the 5.56×45mm round and improving reliability, the weapon system was accepted into service with the British Armed Forces in 1985 as the SA80. The SA80 family originally consisted of the L85A1 Rifle, the L86A1 Light Support Weapon (LSW), and L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle. The first weapons were issued in October 1985.{{sfn|Grant |2016}}{{page needed|date=July 2021}}<ref name="OffTarget"/>

The SA80 family was designed and produced by the [[Royal Small Arms Factory]] at [[Enfield Lock]]. In 1988, production of the rifle was transferred to the Nottingham Small Arms Facility owned by [[Royal Ordnance]] (later [[British Aerospace]], Royal Ordnance; now [[BAE Systems]]), the site was previously known as [[ROF Nottingham]]. It was envisaged that the family would replace the L1A1 SLR, the [[Sterling submachine gun|L2A3 (Sterling) submachine gun]], the [[Bren light machine gun#L4|L4 Light Machine Gun]] (a modernised [[Bren light machine gun|Bren]]), and the [[FN MAG#British versions|L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun]] as used at section level. Regular infantry, [[Royal Marines|Royal Marine]] units, and the [[RAF Regiment]] were to change over by 1987, remaining regular army units by 1990, remaining RAF units by 1991, [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] units by 1991–1993, and the Royal Navy by 1993.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=74}}

In 1994, production was officially completed. More than 350,000 L85 rifles and L86 LSWs had been manufactured for the British Armed Forces, with the former variant accounting for 95% of the total run,{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=74}} with over 21,700 L98A1 rifles were produced for cadet use.<ref name=FOI201503633>{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/492755/20150427-FOI2015_03633_L98A1_Rifle-O_revised.pdf| title=FOI2015_03633 Memo|work=Ministry of Defence|date=28 April 2015}}</ref> The production line was broken up shortly afterwards, with the Nottingham facility closing in 2001. Upgrade programmes and requirements for spare and replacement parts have since been fulfilled by then British-owned [[Heckler & Koch]], which later reopened the Nottingham site.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

As responsibility for the funding and supply of the home defence regiments of the [[British Overseas Territory|British Overseas Territories]] has been handed to the local governments of the territories, despite the regiments themselves coming under command of the national (British) government and being loosely integrated with the British Army, the SA80 was not automatically supplied to these units. The [[Royal Bermuda Regiment|Bermuda Regiment]] adopted the [[Ruger Mini-14]] in 1983, although small stocks of the L85 were also acquired for the purpose of familiarisation training as many of its personnel attend courses or attachments in Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-01-14|title=Photos Of Bermuda Regiment Weapons Demonstration|url=https://bernews.com/2013/01/photos-regiment-weapons-demonstration/|access-date=2023-01-09|website=Bernews}} Photographs 27 and 28 of 52</ref> The Regiment later acquired an additional 400 L85A2 rifles in 2015 to replace the Mini-14 as the standard-issue rifle.<ref name="royalgazette.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20150805/NEWS/150809844|title=Rifles worth $1.4m donated to Regiment |work=The Royal Gazette: Bermuda News|date=5 August 2015|access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

The [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]], which is more closely integrated with the British Army, adopted the SA80 from the outset. The [[Falkland Islands Defence Force]] adopted the [[Steyr AUG]] (another 5.56×45mm bullpup rifle)<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815045503/http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Amphibious-and-Special-Forces/Special-Forces-Land-Falkland-Islands.html |url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Amphibious-and-Special-Forces/Special-Forces-Land-Falkland-Islands.html |archive-date=15 August 2011 |access-date=28 May 2018 |title=Special Forces (Land) (Falkland Islands), Amphibious and special forces |work=Jane's Amphibious and Special Forces |date=25 November 2010}}</ref> which served until 2019 when the Defence Force adopted the L85A2 as part of a wider effort to align its weapons, training and procedures with those of the British Armed Forces.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

The L85 is in use with the [[Jamaica Defence Force]].<ref name="MJ">{{cite web |url=http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-10.html |title=The 5.56 X 45mm: 1990–1994 |access-date=15 June 2009 |first=Daniel |last=Watters |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104174808/http://thegunzone.com/556dw-10.html |archive-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> Various African and South American countries received SA80s as part of wider military aid packages.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=75}}

===Design flaws===
Soon after being adopted for service, problems began to surface during troop trials held between 1986 and 1987. Components were found to be insufficiently robust, the LSW's bipod lock often failed to hold the bipod legs in closed position, the plastic furniture was melted by insect repellent, metal parts were quick to rust in jungle environments, and the weapon's mechanism was highly susceptible to dusty and arctic environments.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=49}}<ref name=IHpg158>{{cite book |last1=Hogg |first1=Ian |last2=Weeks |first2=John |title=Military Small Arms of the 20th Century|year=1991|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|location=London|isbn=978-1-854-09034-8|page=158|quote=[...] the first five years of this rifle's service have been disastrous. A number of manufacturing defects showed up in service conditions, and it was not until the closure of the RSAF at Enfield and the setting up of an entirely new production line, with new computer-controlled machine tools, at the new RSAF Nottingham, that the quality of the production weapons began to improve. It will take some time for the poor reputation gained by the initial issue weapons to be overcome; the only consolation is that the same sort of thing has happened to other military rifles in the past, and they have managed to live down their early reputation and prove their innate reliability. It is to be hoped that the L85A1 will do as well.}}</ref>

These problems were not helped by the production process. The SA80 series was produced from metal stampings. While [[Royal Small Arms Factory|RSAF Enfield]] had previous experience in manufacturing stamped-metal firearms, this was only in relation to weapons such as the [[Sten]] submachine gun that had relatively loose tolerances. The tighter tolerances required by the SA80 soon led to production delays and high wastage levels.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} There were also issues with regard to working practices and employee attitudes at the Enfield site which were exacerbated by its closure in 1988 and resulting redundancies.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=74}} One worker was recorded as saying that "Having been shafted by BAE and our own management, we thought why the hell should we care if [the SA80] worked or not. All we wanted to do was see the last of the bloody things and leave."<ref name=lastenfield>{{cite book |last1=Raw |first1=Steve |title=The Last Enfield – SA80: The Reluctant Rifle|year=2003|publisher=Collector Grade Publications|location=Cobourg|isbn=978-0-889-35303-9}}</ref>

While production at the Nottingham facility was supposed to result in better-quality weapons owing to the use of newer manufacturing methods,<ref name=IHpg158/> few of the staff working there had any experience of firearms manufacture. Only 15 to 20 components were produced in-house, compared to the Enfield site's total of 230, with the rest being outsourced to subcontractors. Since the plant kept low stocks of pre-produced components, significant delays were incurred if subcontracted components were late in arriving at the Nottingham site or did not meet required tolerances.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=74}}

When the L85A1 and L86A1 were first sent into major combat during the [[Gulf War]], individual performance was far from adequate. The L85A1 proved unreliable in semi-automatic mode, and slightly better in fully automatic mode, while the opposite was true of the L86A1. Specific complaints included: the poor quality plastic furniture fell apart and the gun was damaged easily; the magazine release catch was easily knocked accidentally and dropped the magazine; the catch on the top cover over the gas mechanism was too weak and constantly popped open, so it had to be taped down; only 26–28 rounds could be loaded in a magazine because the springs were weak, something that was also mentioned in training manuals, at least with regard to earlier [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]]-produced magazines,<ref name=AC71374>{{cite book |title=Infantry Training Volume II, Pamphlet No. 6 The SA 80 Rifle and Light Support Weapon (LSW) (All Arms) |year=1988 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |id=AC71374}}</ref> and it had to be kept very clean and the lips checked for dents.{{sfn|Williams|2013}}

The magazine was made from aluminium and would deform if grasped too tightly. During firing, this could choke the flow of rounds and result in a jam; the LSW had a small magazine capacity for its role and overheated after 120–150 rounds fired in bursts; the weapons were difficult to strip and reassemble, with the gas plug easily jamming in place and requiring an armorer to remove; the firing pin was too narrow and would snap; the back of the trigger surface was flat which with snow or dirt accumulating behind it would prevent the trigger from pulling back all the way and firing the gun; and ergonomic issues related to the safety catch, cocking lever, and the location and stiffness of the fire selector switch.{{sfn|Williams|2013}}

During [[British military intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War|Operation Palliser]] and other intervention operations in Sierra Leone, it was discovered that the version of the safety plunger used for production weapons was made from cheap injection-moulded plastic that swelled when wet, potentially rendering weapons inoperative if they had been left on 'safe'.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=30}} The SA80 initially gained a poor reputation amongst British soldiers as being unreliable and fragile, a fact picked up by the UK media,<ref name="guardian2">{{citation |first=James |last=Meek |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/oct/10/military.jamesmeek |title=Off Target |work=The Guardian |date=10 October 2002}}</ref> entertainment industry,<ref>for example the [[Bremner, Bird and Fortune]] satirical comedy documentary ''Between Iraq and a Hard Place'' included the line: "The SA80 is a lethal weapon, especially for anyone trying to fire it", similar to a description of the Vietnam War era M16.</ref> and members of the House of Lords.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Defence Estimates 1990|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1990/jul/17/the-defence-estimates-1990|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|date=17 July 1990|access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref> [[Special Air Service]] sergeant [[Chris Ryan]] regarded the SA80s as being "poor-quality, unreliable weapons at the best of times, prone to stoppages, and it seemed pretty tough to have to rely on them".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ryan|first1=Chris|title=[[The One That Got Away (book)|The One That Got Away]]|publisher=Arrow Books|year=2011|isbn=978-0-099-55667-1|location=London|page=55}}</ref>

Immediately after the [[Gulf War]],{{efn|the British activities named [[Operation Granby]]}} the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MOD) commissioned the LANDSET Report,{{efn|officially entitled "Equipment Performance (SA80) During Operation Granby (The Gulf War)"}} into the effectiveness of the L85A1 and L86A1. This report criticised the acceptance of the weapon into service. Neither weapon had managed to pass the sand trials and both frequently jammed. The mechanism of both weapons needed to be well-lubricated as the weapon became prone to seizure if fired "dry", yet in a sandy environment the lubricated weapon became unreliable due to the lubricant attracting sand into the moving parts. The LANDSET report identified in excess of 50 faults, most notably the magazine release catch, which could easily be caught on clothing and accidentally release the magazine; the plastic safety plunger which became brittle in cold climates; and firing pins that were not up to repeated use, and prone to fracture if used in automatic fire mode.<ref name=lastenfield/>

The report concluded that "It is, however, quite clear that infantrymen did not have CONFIDENCE in their personal weapon. Most expected a stoppage in the first magazine fired. Some platoon commanders considered that casualties would have occurred due to weapon stoppages if the enemy had put up any resistance in the trench and bunker clearing operations. Even discounting the familiarisation period of desert conditions, when some may have still been using the incorrect lubrication drill, stoppages continued to occur."<ref name=lastenfield/>

The report was leaked to the press, at which point the Ministry of Defence claimed that it was fake; while it was later admitted that the report was a genuine document,{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=28}} the MOD continued to downplay its significance, and only seven of the 50 faults identified were addressed by subsequent modifications, meaning that complaints over reliability in service continued. The MOD finally began to take the SA80 family's issues seriously in 1992, but procuring entirely new weapons was considered too expensive.{{sfn|Williams|2013}}

===A2 upgrade programme <span class="anchor" id="L85A2"></span>===
As a result, a more extensive modification programme was executed. In 2000, a team from Heckler & Koch, led by Ernst Mauch, was contracted to upgrade the SA80 family of weapons.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theflyingscotsman91.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-story-of-sa80-assault-rifle-and.html | title=The Story of the SA80 assault rifle - and a reflection on British military procurement disaster }}</ref> At that time Heckler & Koch were owned by BAE Systems. 200,000 SA80s were re-manufactured for £400 each, producing the A2 variant. Changes focused primarily on improving reliability and include a redesigned cocking handle, modified bolt, extractor and a redesigned hammer assembly that produces a slight delay in the hammer's operation in continuous fire mode, improving reliability and stability. The rifle and the LSW underwent modifications, and the programme also saw the introduction of a carbine variant.<ref name="guardian"/> The Ministry of Defence describes the A2 revision as "producing the most reliable weapons of their type in the world".<ref name=modl85>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23222.aspx |title=SA80 individual weapon |publisher=Army.mod.uk |access-date=2009-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210174925/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23222.aspx |archive-date=2015-12-10}}</ref> Armed Forces trials indicated extremely good reliability over a range of climates for various operational scenarios, though with a decline in reliability in hot, and especially hot and dry conditions.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=31}}{{sfn|Williams|2013}}

The L85A2 achieved an average reliability rate of 25,200 [[Mean time between failures|mean rounds between failure]], and the L86A2 achieved 12,897 mean rounds between failures. Both weapons have higher reliability rates in cold/dry, temperate, and hot/wet conditions,{{efn|over 31,500 MRBF for L85A2}} but lower rates in hot/dry environments. The minimum expected life of A2 components is 10,000 rounds, meaning they might never suffer stoppages during their lifetimes. Mean rounds between failures was the measure of the average number of rounds that are fired between failures of a battlefield mission test. A battlefield mission was counted as a failure when there was more than one stoppage that the soldier could clear immediately on their own or there was a stoppage that required an armourer or a tool to clear. The Individual Weapon fired 165 battlefield missions, each comprising 150 rounds over 8 mins 40 secs. A total of 24,750 rounds were fired and suffered only 51 stoppages.{{efn|485 rounds fired for every stoppage}} Out of 165 battlefield missions, the A2 passed 156; the nine failures stoppages were easily cleared and not mission critical. The L85A2 achieved a 95% success rate, above the operational requirement of 90%, and its nearest rival of popular choice achieved only 47%.{{sfn|Williams|2013}} Originally slated for introduction in 2002,<ref>{{cite news |last=Harding |first=Thomas |date=16 October 2001 |title=Rifles up-dated in time for invasion |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359559/Rifles-up-dated-in-time-for-invasion.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359559/Rifles-up-dated-in-time-for-invasion.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Telegraph |location=London |access-date=15 September 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the first A2-style SA80 weapons were rushed into action in Afghanistan in December 2001, and all 200,000 were converted by February 2006. Three to four thousand weapons were converted per month. Despite the modifications, reports emerged that the L85A2 was still jamming; in reality, there were few jams and problems were much less serious than they were made out to be, since they stemmed from isolated cases of soldiers not cleaning their weapons correctly.{{sfn|Williams|2013}} The modified A2 variants are distinguished by the "HK A2" marking on the top of the weapon just forward of the buttplate and the distinctive comma-shaped cocking handle (shaped to aid the ejection of the empty round casing and prevent stoppages).

Continued testing of the L85A2 in adverse conditions demonstrates its reliability over contemporary rifles, including the M16. Although it is heavier than most conventional and more modern bullpup rifles, its full-length barrel gives higher muzzle velocities and better terminal performance than both the American [[M4 carbine]] and [[M16 assault rifle]]. Rounds from an [[M4 carbine|M4]] will only reliably fragment out to 50–100 metres, while the L85A2 and M16 allowed fragmentation out to 150–200 metres and the L86A2 has an even longer fragmentation range.{{sfn|Williams|2013}} Despite these modifications, the L86A2 was supplemented with a belt-fed machine gun. British troops were issued with [[FN Minimi]] machine guns to add suppressive fire out to 300 metres.{{sfn|Williams|2013}}

A further upgrade including the provision of [[Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight]]s (ACOGs), a [[Daniel Defense]]-designed [[Picatinny rail]] (RIS) handguard for the L85 rifle (with optional Grip Pod downgrip),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eda.europa.eu/procurement-gateway|title=Supply of Handguards and Downgrips for SA80A2|publisher=European Defence Agency|quote=<!-- The Combat Support Equipment Integrated Project Team (CSE IPT), part of the Ministry of Defence United Kingdom, has a requirement for design, production and supply of a new handguard and downgrip for the SA80A2 Rifle to give improved grip capability. There is a possible requirement for up to quantity 8,000 of each item for Urgent Operational Requirements. There is a further possible requirement for up to quantity 15,000 to replace in service equipment.-->}}</ref> and a new vortex style [[Flash suppressor|flash eliminator]] was introduced as an [[Urgent Operational Requirement]]; initially introduced for use by selected units in 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/ceso/trained_soldiers/kit_magazine/kit62_hi_res.pdf |title=Kit Magazine |issue=62 |date=Winter 2007 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] |access-date=2008-03-16 |quote=<!-- This technology is here now! So if you see strange-looking SA80s being carried by strange-looking men, then rest assured, those users that had the requirement, had the make-over, at a price.--> |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001234423/http://www.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/ceso/trained_soldiers/kit_magazine/kit62_hi_res.pdf |archive-date=1 October 2008}}</ref> the upgrade package was subsequently rolled out on a more general basis from 2009 onwards.{{Sfn|Grant|2016|p=41}}

===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>