Australia ordered Thales Australia F90 rifles
Currently, the main rifle weapons Australian Army is an F88 Austeyr automatic rifle. This weapon, created on the basis of the Austrian machine gun Steyr AUG, has been used by the troops since the late eighties. The characteristics of the F88 Austeyr rifle generally suit the Australian military, but the process of replacing these weapons with newer ones has already begun. A few days ago there was a message about signing a contract for the production of new weapons.
24 September, Jane's news agency reported that the Australian Department of Defense and Thales Australia have signed a contract for the initial production of the new F90 rifles. In accordance with this agreement, Thales Australia must prepare for full-scale production of new weapons. The next contract, during the execution of which the army will begin to receive the necessary amount of weapons, is planned to be signed in the middle of next year.
The new agreements imply the supply of F90 rifles in several versions, including those equipped with Steyr SL40 grenade launchers. Over the past few months, both weapons have been tested in different conditions. Tests of an automatic rifle were completed in April of this year, a grenade launcher - in June. The tests used several rifles of the new model, produced at the factory Thales Australia in the city of Lithgow. During the tests, more than one million rounds of ammunition were spent, which made it possible to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the new weapon, as well as conduct all the necessary research. As follows from the latest events, the F90 rifle completely satisfied the customer.
The new automatic rifle for the army of Australia has developed the Australian division of the international company Thales. The aim of the project was to create a new small arms, which should replace the aging rifles F88 Austeyr, used since the mid-eighties. The F90 rifle was first demonstrated in the middle of the 2012 year. It was reported that the mass production of these weapons could begin in the next few years. Last news They say that rifle production starts approximately after 2,5-3, after the first demonstration.
To simplify the development and production of a new rifle F90, it was decided to create on the basis of the existing F88. So, in the process of creating the project was called EF88 (Enhanced F88 - "Improved F88"). Subsequently, the project index was changed to F90. It should be noted, the new automatic rifle F90 is another type of small arms, created on the basis of the Austrian rifle Steyr AUG. The currently used rifle, the F88 Austeyr, was a licensed copy of the AUG with some modifications. F90, in turn, is its deeply modernized version.
The Thales Australia F90 rifle is a further development of the Steyr AUG, but has some notable differences. First of all, the Australian designers abandoned interchangeable barrels, allowing in a relatively short time to re-equip weapons for the use of different cartridges. The basic version of the rifle F90 is equipped with a rifled barrel length 508 mm. There is a modification of the F90 Carbine with a trunk shortened to 407 mm. Both barrels are equipped with slit flame arresters. The new Australian rifle, unlike its Austrian prototype, does not have a front vertical grip. Instead, under the barrel is a universal Picatinny rail, on which you can install the necessary equipment. It is also proposed to use to hold weapons when firing.
The plastic bed has undergone significant changes. For example, on the upper surface of a plastic receiver, above the windows for ejection of spent cartridges, a small comb appeared, which provides greater convenience for the application of weapons. The contours of the box and safety bracket connected to the pistol grip are noticeably changed. For ease of use of the weapon and the installation of additional equipment, several standard Picatinny bars are provided. One of them is located under the barrel, the other - above it. The second strap extends from the front of the barrel housing to the middle of the receiver. Finally, on the side surfaces of the front openwork design protecting the trunk, there are two more strips.
The F90 automatic rifle is designed to be used only on the NATO 5,56x45 mm cartridge. The possibility of replacing some units for the use of other ammunition is not provided. Ammunition is carried out from detachable shops on 30 cartridges.
The overall design of the F90 rifle matches the architecture of the base Steyr AUG. It uses vapor-automatic, and also has a trigger mechanism of the original design. The latter does not have a separate translator of fire, and the choice of the mode is made by the force of pressing the trigger. When not fully pressed, the rifle shoots single, with a full turn. According to reports, some changes have been made to the design of the firing mechanism, due to the ease of manufacture and operation. An important innovation is the slide lag, which was absent on previous rifles of the AUG family, which became the prototypes of the new F90.
The F90 rifle in the basic version has a total length of 802 mm and weighs 3,4 kg. Thus, the new rifle on the 0,5 kg is lighter than that used in F88 troops. When installing a regular grenade launcher, new weapons on the 1,6 kg are lighter than the old ones.
Especially for the F90 automatic rifle, a sub-barrel SL40 grenade launcher caliber 40 mm was developed. This weapon is charged from the treasury and has a moving barrel. An interesting feature of this grenade launcher is the trigger mechanism and body design. The trigger of the grenade launcher is placed in the rear part of its body and, when a grenade launcher is mounted on the rifle, passes through a special slot in the trigger guard. Thus, the controls of the rifle and the grenade launcher are concentrated in one place, which increases the usability of the weapon.
On the upper Picatinny rail any compatible sights can be mounted. Trijcon ACOG systems with an increase of 1,5x or 3,5x are offered as a base sight. If necessary, the shooter can replace this sight with any other.
A few days ago, a contract was signed for the initial production of new automatic rifles Thales Australia F90. By next year, the Australian army should receive a certain amount of new weapons, and its mass production will unfold in about a year. It is noteworthy that even before the start of the full-scale construction of new rifles, the Australian branch of Thales began searching for new customers. According to some reports, the F90 rifle is offered to the French armed forces, where in the future it will be able to replace the existing FAMAS rifles. In addition, in the near future may receive information on new proposals and negotiations.
On the materials of the sites:
http://janes.com/
http://lenta.ru/
http://world.guns.ru/
http://i-mash.ru/
24 September, Jane's news agency reported that the Australian Department of Defense and Thales Australia have signed a contract for the initial production of the new F90 rifles. In accordance with this agreement, Thales Australia must prepare for full-scale production of new weapons. The next contract, during the execution of which the army will begin to receive the necessary amount of weapons, is planned to be signed in the middle of next year.
The new agreements imply the supply of F90 rifles in several versions, including those equipped with Steyr SL40 grenade launchers. Over the past few months, both weapons have been tested in different conditions. Tests of an automatic rifle were completed in April of this year, a grenade launcher - in June. The tests used several rifles of the new model, produced at the factory Thales Australia in the city of Lithgow. During the tests, more than one million rounds of ammunition were spent, which made it possible to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the new weapon, as well as conduct all the necessary research. As follows from the latest events, the F90 rifle completely satisfied the customer.
The new automatic rifle for the army of Australia has developed the Australian division of the international company Thales. The aim of the project was to create a new small arms, which should replace the aging rifles F88 Austeyr, used since the mid-eighties. The F90 rifle was first demonstrated in the middle of the 2012 year. It was reported that the mass production of these weapons could begin in the next few years. Last news They say that rifle production starts approximately after 2,5-3, after the first demonstration.
To simplify the development and production of a new rifle F90, it was decided to create on the basis of the existing F88. So, in the process of creating the project was called EF88 (Enhanced F88 - "Improved F88"). Subsequently, the project index was changed to F90. It should be noted, the new automatic rifle F90 is another type of small arms, created on the basis of the Austrian rifle Steyr AUG. The currently used rifle, the F88 Austeyr, was a licensed copy of the AUG with some modifications. F90, in turn, is its deeply modernized version.
The Thales Australia F90 rifle is a further development of the Steyr AUG, but has some notable differences. First of all, the Australian designers abandoned interchangeable barrels, allowing in a relatively short time to re-equip weapons for the use of different cartridges. The basic version of the rifle F90 is equipped with a rifled barrel length 508 mm. There is a modification of the F90 Carbine with a trunk shortened to 407 mm. Both barrels are equipped with slit flame arresters. The new Australian rifle, unlike its Austrian prototype, does not have a front vertical grip. Instead, under the barrel is a universal Picatinny rail, on which you can install the necessary equipment. It is also proposed to use to hold weapons when firing.
The plastic bed has undergone significant changes. For example, on the upper surface of a plastic receiver, above the windows for ejection of spent cartridges, a small comb appeared, which provides greater convenience for the application of weapons. The contours of the box and safety bracket connected to the pistol grip are noticeably changed. For ease of use of the weapon and the installation of additional equipment, several standard Picatinny bars are provided. One of them is located under the barrel, the other - above it. The second strap extends from the front of the barrel housing to the middle of the receiver. Finally, on the side surfaces of the front openwork design protecting the trunk, there are two more strips.
The F90 automatic rifle is designed to be used only on the NATO 5,56x45 mm cartridge. The possibility of replacing some units for the use of other ammunition is not provided. Ammunition is carried out from detachable shops on 30 cartridges.
The overall design of the F90 rifle matches the architecture of the base Steyr AUG. It uses vapor-automatic, and also has a trigger mechanism of the original design. The latter does not have a separate translator of fire, and the choice of the mode is made by the force of pressing the trigger. When not fully pressed, the rifle shoots single, with a full turn. According to reports, some changes have been made to the design of the firing mechanism, due to the ease of manufacture and operation. An important innovation is the slide lag, which was absent on previous rifles of the AUG family, which became the prototypes of the new F90.
The F90 rifle in the basic version has a total length of 802 mm and weighs 3,4 kg. Thus, the new rifle on the 0,5 kg is lighter than that used in F88 troops. When installing a regular grenade launcher, new weapons on the 1,6 kg are lighter than the old ones.
Especially for the F90 automatic rifle, a sub-barrel SL40 grenade launcher caliber 40 mm was developed. This weapon is charged from the treasury and has a moving barrel. An interesting feature of this grenade launcher is the trigger mechanism and body design. The trigger of the grenade launcher is placed in the rear part of its body and, when a grenade launcher is mounted on the rifle, passes through a special slot in the trigger guard. Thus, the controls of the rifle and the grenade launcher are concentrated in one place, which increases the usability of the weapon.
On the upper Picatinny rail any compatible sights can be mounted. Trijcon ACOG systems with an increase of 1,5x or 3,5x are offered as a base sight. If necessary, the shooter can replace this sight with any other.
A few days ago, a contract was signed for the initial production of new automatic rifles Thales Australia F90. By next year, the Australian army should receive a certain amount of new weapons, and its mass production will unfold in about a year. It is noteworthy that even before the start of the full-scale construction of new rifles, the Australian branch of Thales began searching for new customers. According to some reports, the F90 rifle is offered to the French armed forces, where in the future it will be able to replace the existing FAMAS rifles. In addition, in the near future may receive information on new proposals and negotiations.
On the materials of the sites:
http://janes.com/
http://lenta.ru/
http://world.guns.ru/
http://i-mash.ru/
Information