One of the Australian Defence Force’s LAND 159 tranche 1 plans includes the acquisition of “kill systems”.
These reflect the procurement of individual systems to fill specific melee roles in modernized forces. On September 30, 2022, Major General Bottrell, Head of Land Systems, announced that Queensland-based company NIOA has been selected to provide breakthroughs with selected new sniper rifles, pistols, shotguns, personal defense weapons, optics, fighting knives and attack system. The multi-million dollar contract will guide NIOA’s acquisitions that will begin in 2023.
Since 2020, NIOA’s weapons and ammunition experts have worked with the Commonwealth project team to evaluate 649 product candidates for 11 mission roles before making final recommendations. The new weapons systems the Australian Defence Force has now identified for procurement include:
- Australia’s ZU Bladeworx double-edged fighting knife serves as the basis for the ADF’s new hand-to-hand combat system. This black double edge bucket knife has a 100mm blade machined from a solid billet of A2 steel and features a non-slip handle and retaining ring.
- Sidearm Weapon – The SIG Sauer P320 XCarry Pro replaces the venerable Browning Mk3 pistol. It will be equipped with reflex sights and white light illuminators.
- Combat Shotgun System – The Benelli M3A1 is capable of semi-auto or pump action, with red dot sight and white light illuminator.
- Personal Defense Weapons – The SIG Sauer MCX .300 Blackout caliber provides dismounted combatants with a light, modular and compact weapon system that can be quickly optimized for specific roles.
- Long Range Sniper Capability – Accuracy International AX-SR – As a multi-caliber system, capable of delivering 0.338 Lapua Magnum, 0.300 Norma Magnum and 7.62mm NATO calibers.
- Sniper surveillance capability – Safran JIM compact multispectral surveillance device and Steiner laser ranging binoculars provide sniper team surveillance
- Antimatter Sniper Capability – The Barrett Firearms M107A1 Rifle is a lighter, more modern and suppressed derivative of the active weapon, equipped with precision optics, night vision and ranger seekers.
“Cooperation between defence and industry means that we will get the best weapons systems for our forces,” said General Bottrell.
Stephen W. Miller
