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15:13 GMT
UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE TO SPEND 80 MILLION POUNDS MODIFYING SA80 RIFLES
LONDON -- THE BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (MOD) SAID THAT 200,000 RIFLES
WOULD BE MODIFIED UNDER THE PROGRAMME.
NEW COMPONENTS TO BE FITTED INCLUDE THE WEAPON'S MAGAZINE, FIRING PIN,
SPRINGS, COCKING LEVER AND BARREL.
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HOPES THE CHANGES WILL FINALLY SOLVE THE EMBARRASSING
FAULTS THAT HAVE DOGGED THE SA80.
IT WAS DESIGNED BY MOD EXPERTS AND INTRODUCED IN 1986 TO REPLACE THE AGEING
"SLR" WHICH HAD BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE THE EARLY 1960S.
ALTHOUGH LIGHTER AND SHORTER, SOLDIERS COMPLAINED THAT THE RIFLE'S BOLT AND
MAGAZINE WERE PRONE TO JAMMING.
ONE DEFENCE EXPERT COMPLAINED THAT IT HAD FALLEN APART'' DURING TRIALS IN
NORWAY IN 1983.
FURTHER COMPLAINTS EMERGED DURING THE 1991 GULF WAR TO LIBERATE KUWAIT, AND
IN 1993 THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEFENCE COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTED THE SA80'S
UNBELIEVABLE'' PROBLEMS.
IN 1995 THE MOD ORDERED FULL-SCALE TESTS TO BE CARRIED OUT. HECKLER AND
KOCH WAS ASKED TO STUDY THE WEAPON IN 1995 AND REPORTED BACK IN 1998.
A FINAL REPORT WAS HANDED TO BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY GEOFFREY HOON LAST
DECEMBER. (END)
HE.JA
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