In a bid to equip the British Armed Forces with a modern infantry weapon, BDT UK has revealed two advanced firearm systems — the Beretta New Assault Rifle Platform and a Sako AR-15-style rifle. The announcement signals the company’s commitment to competing in the program to replace the UK’s long-serving standard-issue rifle.
These offerings are part of Project Grayburn, the UK’s effort to establish requirements for a next-generation weapon system to succeed the SA80 L85. First introduced in the 1980s, the L85 has been the backbone of the nation’s small arms inventory but is now approaching the end of its operational lifespan.
Under the plan, the L85 will continue to be fielded during a carefully managed transition period. This will allow the military to maintain operational consistency while introducing and integrating the new rifle platform into service.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to procure as many as 172,000 rifles over the next ten years, with deliveries scheduled in phases. This structured rollout is designed to ensure smooth adoption, training, and operational deployment of the new weapon systems.
