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10 Jul 25. Excellent Conference and Range Day at Close Combat Symposium (CCS) July 1-3
The Editor made his annual pilgrimage to annual Close Combat Symposium. This years Theme:
Delivering lethal effect – how do we harness digital targeting to enhance the dismounted close combat kill web?
- The Land Operating Concept has Recce-Strike at it’s heart. Not a new concept, and being played-out in real-time today, yet one which is a departure from how the British Army saw itself operating previously. How can we harness existing technology to immediately tighten the kill-web?
- What are the new equipment and emerging concept opportunities to ensure the close combat fight is weighted in the British Army’s favour?
- Automation offers opportunity, but could also be an anchor. How do we ensure we automate the correct parts of the close fight at the right time?
- Dismounted Close Combat remains an inevitable part of modern warfare. How do we layer effects and capabilities at small team and platoon levels to ensure overmatch against adversaries?
- The digital kill-web is rapidly evolving; where should we be setting our sights in terms of capability milestones over the next 3, 5 and 10 years?
- Much of what could be achieved is reliant on an unassured energy supply. What can be done to balance technology’s demand versus the force’s ability to sustain it?
- Enhancing lethality is as much about survivability as it is about calibre and rates of fire. How can we improve battlefield survivability now, and in the next 10 years?
Format
The event was held over three days.
1 July: Day 1 is at the Defence Academy of the UK in Shrivenham and provides insight from Army HQ and other customers on their intent for the future. This is supplemented by presentations from academia and industry.
2 July: Day 2 takes place at Cranfield University’s COTEC range facility on Salisbury Plain. This involves live-firing demonstrations from industry as well as an opportunity for delegates to fire small arms from different manufacturers and with different optics and technologies. There is also the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate autonomous and remote technologies.
3 July: Day 3 is back at Shrivenham and provides more technology briefs from industry and academia.
FNH UK
FNH UK presented a family of weapons, all with a common Receiver, which the company is offering for Op Grayburn, the SA-80 replacement contract. The Editor fired the whole Range.
The weapons on display included, the SCAR Sub Compact (SC) carbine, the FN EVOLYS™ 7.62 Ultralight Machine Gun, and the FN SCAR®-H MK2 Assault Rifle (7.62X51MM NATO CAL)
FN SCAR®-H MK2 Assault Rifle (7.62X51MM NATO CAL)
The FN SCAR®-H Mk2 STD assault rifle is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO calibre and is available with barrels of various lengths (13” or 16”) . These barrels are interchangeable in less than 5 minutes.
FN SCAR®-SC
The SCAR Sub Compact (SC) on display was fitted with the Aimpoint T2 with spacer (32mm). The SCAR H was fitted with the Zeiss 3x30i with FN reticle. As a complement to the renowned FN SCAR® assault rifles, grenade launcher and precision rifles, FN Herstal proposes the FN SCAR®-SC Subcompact Carbine in 5.56x45mm NATO or 7.62x35mm/.300 BLK calibre. Regardless of the calibre, the FN SCAR®-SC is extremely compact and comes standard with a standard telescopic buttstock allowing a 3-position length adjustment. A wide choice of additional buttstock configurations are available to best suit to user morphology and mission at hand.
FN EVOLYS™ Machine Gun Range.
The strapline on the FN web site says that the FN EVOLYS™ fires like a machine gun and handles like a rifle. That description was spot on. The FN EVOLYS™ has an added extra of an anti-recoil absorption pad at the end of the buttstock which by its very description absorbs all the recoil and allows the shooter to keep the machine gun on target for better accuracy. This was the first time that the Editor had fired a machine gun from the standing position. The results were excellent with the lightness and modular design showing through on the handling of the weapon and ability to keep rounds on target during bursts of fire. The FN EVOLYS™ has been developed in two calibres, 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO.
FN EVOLYS™ 7.62 Ultralight Machine Gun
The brand new FN EVOLYS™ Ultralight Machine Gun combines the firing capabilities of a belt-fed machine gun with ergonomics and balance similar to an assault rifle, and complements the existing FN machine gun portfolio. The FN EVOLYS™ has been developed in two calibres, 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO. The FN EVOLYS™ 7.62, with a weight of approx. 6.2 kilos, is much lighter than current reference machine guns. The sight on the Evolys 7.62mm was the new Elcan Specter DR1.5-6x (7.62).
Excelitas Technologies Showcase Night Vision, Thermal and Fused Sighting, Surveillance and Target Location Solutions. Excelitas Technologies® Corp., a leading industrial technology manufacturer focused on delivering innovative, market-driven photonic solutions, highlight its broad offering of components, modules and system solutions for night vision, thermal and fused sighting, surveillance and target location applications requiring the highest quality and reliability.
Featured products for dismounted operators include:
Beretta Defense Technologies UK (BDT UK) briefed BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold about the range of weapons the company is proposing for its Project Grayburn offering, the UK Requirement to replace the venerable L85A3 (SA80) and other infantry weapons.
Project Grayburn ultimately intends to procure around 170,000 assault rifles to replace the SA80, which was first introduced in 1985 and has been progressively upgraded, with the latest L85A3 version issued in 2018. The UK MoD has thus far not stipulated a desired calibre for the new weapons and appears to be open to researched options.
- Can you refer to Beretta Defense Technologies UK (BDT UK) throughout unless specifically talking about the NARP rifle, in which case that will be Beretta
- It would be worth mentioning the SAKO rifle that BDT UK are also putting forward to Project Grayburn alongside the NARP
o The Sako M23 5.56mm assault rifle is a modern, modular weapon system developed by Finnish manufacturer Sako, designed to meet the needs of NATO forces. It features a short-stroke gas piston operation, monolithic upper receiver, and M-LOK forend, allowing for enhanced durability and accessory attachment. The rifle is equipped with ambidextrous controls, a telescoping Magpul CTR stock, and a full-length NATO Accessory Rail (STANAG 4694) for mounting optics. It uses 30-round detachable polymer box magazines and is compatible with Ase Utra BoreLock suppressors. The M23 is currently being adopted by the Finnish and Swedish armed forces, with deployment starting in 2024 and 2025, respectively
Jack Cadman, Law Enforcement & Military Group Manager for BDT UK, said, “We’re confident that BDT UK can provide the right rifle for the British Army to replace the outdated SA80— both the NARP and SAKO rifles are designed to meet the current and future operational challenges faced by the UK Armed Forces, will deliver lasting value to the UK economy, and have already been successfully delivered to NATO allies. BDT UK has a credible plan for them to be manufactured right here in the UK, to create highly skilled jobs, strengthen our domestic supply chain, and ensure a small arms manufacturing capability for the UK.”
The new rifle design will include:
Variable Upper Receiver Group URG Based on role
Common Lower Receiver Group
Variable Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) system (sight), based on role
Common 556 ammunition procured from BAE Systems at Radway Green.
Variants
Dismounted Close Combat User (c30,500)
Dismounted Close Combat User – short (c13,500)
Generalist User (c103,00)
Personal Defence Weapon (c10,000)
ISE is targeted for 2029/30. IoC for2030/31 and FoC for 2035/36. An Initial Look Request from DE&S is imminent with an Industry Day next year. Trials will then take place.
Other systems to be procured related to Grayburn include HMNVS, the SILLS sniper pack, TCOS and ABILLS NVG systems, ballistic calculators and the MIRTL Target locator, GPMG night sights at £25k per soldier giving a total of £750m.
ISE is targeted for 2029/30. IoC for2030/31 and FoC for 2035/36. An Initial Look Request from DE&S is imminent with an Industry Day next year. Trials will then take place.
Beretta is offering its NARP Assault Rifle for Grayburn
– From Beretta’s centuries-long experience, the NARP is an advanced platform designed to meet the needs of the modern Military and Law Enforcement forces.
– Entirely designed, developed, and manufactured in Italy, NARP has been designed to increase and enhance five key operational capabilities: lethality, reliability, ergonomics, modularity, and signature reduction.
– From the evolution of Beretta’s military DNA, this new product’s design has been inspired by functional genetics, to be a natural extension of users and offer a unique set of features to enhance and support Military and Law Enforcement forces operating in complex, high threat environments.
– Key information:
o Caliber – 5.56×45 NATO
o Operating principle – Gas operated short-stroke piston
o Locking system – Locked breech, rotating bolt
o Barrel length – 11.5”, 14.5”, 16”
o Weight – 3.3kg (14.5” barrel)
o Lower receiver material – Aluminium
o Accessory Rail – Mil-Std-1913/STANAG 460 +M-LOK Interfaces
o Reciprocating system – Non-reciprocating T-lever
o Stock – Telescopic, foldable (optional), collapsable (optional)
o Magazine capacity – 30 rounds
The rifles will also be compatible with Steiner optics and this will be reiterated in the Project Grayburn bid to demonstrate the complete solution that BDT UK can offer:
o Founded in 1947, Steiner Optics create the most advanced scopes, optics, binoculars and laser range finders. Working with Armed Forces across NATO, Steiner has a proven track record in providing advanced and reliable optics that empower operators to execute and dominate with unmatched stealth, precision and accuracy.
With an 80-year legacy of precision engineering, Steiner Optics has consistently delivered the most advanced optical solutions, including high-performance scopes, binoculars, and laser rangefinders. Founded in 1947, Steiner has become a leading designer and manufacturer of binoculars for the hunting, marine, and military sectors.
In 1989, Steiner supplied 72,000 binoculars to the US Army ahead of Operation Desert Storm, where their long-range capabilities proved vital in desert warfare. In 2014, Steiner won a contract to supply 10,000 Steiner binoculars to the British Armed Forces for contemporary operations.
Building upon their renowned binocular expertise, Steiner has pioneered the development of specialised optics for assault rifles, pistols, and precision rifles.
- Steiner LPVO 1-8x: This adjustable magnification scope with a dual reticle offers unparalleled clarity and adaptability, meeting the diverse demands of dismounted close combat soldiers engaging targets in both extended ranges and close-quarters scenarios.
- T1Xi+TM3x: Combining crystal-clear optics with a rapid red dot and donut reticle (with adjustable brightness) and the quick deployment of a 3x magnifier via the TM3x, this system ensures speed and precision from close to distant targets.
- Steiner MPS: A highly durable red dot sight mounted on elevated rails, providing a dependable optic for any personal defense weapon.
Key areas of interest
– Land Industrial Strategy
o As part of BDT UK’s commitment to the UK, the business is developing a comprehensive Land Industrial Strategy for Project Grayburn which will be unveiled at DSEI 2025.
o This strategy will present the vision for collaboration, outline potential partnership models and highlight the tangible benefits the group can bring to UK Defence.
o BDT UK is working to engage with key stakeholders across the sector to forge a mutually beneficial partnership that supports the continued success of the UK defence industry.
o Further business announcements will be made at DSEI 2025.
– Fully integrated supply-chain
o With businesses spanning the whole small arms spectrum, BDT UK is the only supplier with firearms, optics and ancillaries within its group.
o This fully integrated supply chain gives the MoD a single point of contact for the whole procurement – streamlining communications and guaranteeing delivery.
– BDT as a partner to the US military for over 30 years
o BDT has been the partner of the US military for 3 decades, through Beretta’s M9 pistol.
o BDT builds strong and sustainable partnerships with industry and government, driven by long-term strategies centred on the needs of soldiers and law enforcement officers.
o BDT’s work in the US offers a blueprint of the economic, industrial, and security benefits that a BDT UK-MoD partnership would bring to the UK Armed Forces, and its wider industrial base.
– UK sovereign capability and high-skilled employment
o As a business already invested in the UK, BDT UK represents the solution to building UK sovereign firearms manufacturing – delivering high-skilled jobs in the North of England that spread prosperity and retain sovereignty.
About BDT UK
Beretta Defence Technologies UK is a group of businesses within the Beretta Holdings umbrella dedicated to providing the best equipment to the British Armed Forces and Police – making soldiers and sailors more effective and lethal. With a deep history in the UK and a network of businesses across the world, BDT UK is the champion of the dismounted soldier.
The Editor shot other weapons including the Heckler & Koch light machine gun and the Benelli shotgun, shooting at live drones.
Canik and AEI showed their 30mm OWS offering to the UK MoD as an Made in UK solution with the possibility of BAE Systems supplying the ammunition using its existing 30mm Rarden line.
We will be covering more CCS news in future issues.
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DSEI 2025 – POWERING PROGRESS, DEFINING YOUR FUTURE
DSEI connects governments, national armed forces, industry thought leaders and the entire defence & security supply chain on a global scale. With a range of valuable opportunities for networking, a platform for business, access to relevant content & live-action demonstrations, the DSEI community can strengthen relationships, share knowledge and engage in the latest capabilities across the exhibition’s Aerospace, Land, Naval, Security & Joint Zones.
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