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United Kingdom BAE Systems
L85A3
Latest upgrade of the British Army's bullpup service rifle, refining the SA80 family with a new barrel, improved furniture and enhanced reliability after decades of incremental fixes to the original 1980s design. It remains the standard individual weapon of UK armed forces.
In service since 2018 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
400
m range
775
rpm
940
m/s
30
rds
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
UK export-licensed
Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.
Channel: Government-to-government or direct
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2018. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 400 m |
|---|---|
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 775 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 940 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 5.6 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 30 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 0.79 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 5 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 508 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the BAE Systems L85A3 require? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the BAE Systems L85A3? +
The BAE Systems L85A3's primary weapon is the 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle.
What is the BAE Systems L85A3 used for? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the BAE Systems L85A3? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 is operated by 1 countries.
