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| Дата | 27.06.2000 20:54:26 |  |
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MoD Acts Over SA80 Concerns
(Source : UK Ministry of Defence ; dated June 23, Web-posted June 26, 2000)
Defence Procurement Minister, Baroness Symons, announced today that the SA80 weapon system is to undergo an extensive modification programme.
The Baroness said:
"Our Armed Forces deserve to be equipped with weapons in which they have full confidence. The SA80 is an effective weapon system. But there has long been concern over its performance in certain extremes of climate. We now know that the weapon can be improved. The programme that I have announced today will make the SA80 amongst the best in the world. It demonstrates our willingness to take quick and decisive procurement action when required."
The contract which, subject to satisfactory contractual negotiations, will be awarded to Heckler and Koch, a subsidiary of Royal Ordnance, is to modify some 200,000 SA80 weapons, including both the Individual Weapon and the Light Support Weapon. The overall cost of the modification programme is estimated at around 80Million pounds sterling, including the cost of trials and support.
The MoD has applied the principles of Smart Procurement to achieve the earliest possible in-service date. The first modified weapons will be produced next January, with a total of 22,000 weapons to be delivered by the end of next year.
The MoD is exploring with the company the scope to maximize the number of UK jobs involved in the modification programme. Early indications are that work on the stripping and refurbishment of weapons prior to modification will be done in the UK (most probably within ABRO at Donnington). The modifications package itself was designed by H&K at Obendorf in Germany and, whilst this is essentially a matter for the company, it is likely to make sense to conduct most of the modification work there too.
Background Notes:
**The decision follows Heckler & Koch (UK) Ltd.'s report into the causes of the reliability problems and potential modifications. Comprehensive climatic trials were conducted in 1999 with the final design authority report received in December 1999.
**The proposed modification package represents a system approach to improving the reliability while maintaining the weapon system's overall effectiveness. The work comprises both modification of the existing weapons and a number of replacement components.
The modified items are the Barrel Extension (one and a half lugs removed to allow for revised extractor shape) Bolt Head Carrier (polish contact surface to reduce friction), Hammer Stop (strengthened) and Receiver (ejection port enlarged to allow clean ejection).
The new components are, Magazine (re-designed for improved feed), Firing Pin (improved tolerances and extended life), Hammer (increased mass to overcome bolt bounce), Gas Plug (radiused at collar to prevent shearing), Gas Cylinder (greater tolerances), new Springs (optimise performance - including recoil springs, ejector springs, extractor spring), Bolt Assembly/Extractor (improve extraction pattern), Cocking Lever (revised shape to deflect cases) and a new barrel for the LSW (increased life).
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