if any interest

tban_mccann
Posted: Feb 19 2012, 01:44 AM
 


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News out about the next generation Australian Army Rifle. Apparently comes with a custom designed single shot underbarrel 40mm grenade launcher. No MST technology in sight, but additional rails have been fitted all over the new gun. The new design also has something they call RIC, Rifle Input Control, which is a fancy interface between the rifles electronic architecture and any ancillary devices that you might be inclined to fit either on the rifle or somewhere on the soldier. Thales appear to have the business. Details are at this website:

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2012/02...ifle-the-ef-88/

Correspondents at the following website have made some observations about MST options that haven't been taken up:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/using-au...e-playing-xbox/

There was no suggestion, in recent years at least, that MST was in with a chance on the new Australian rifle. In a quite predictable fashion MST seems to stand a better chance of being selected as an option for the Canadian upgrade (but don't hold your breath on that - it's in early planning mode only at the moment). Folk at the websites quoted above are dismissive of MST's bolt-on (Maul or 3GL) non-lethal capabilities, but we'd suspect that the real military is conscious of the advantages of a mixed lethal/non lethal capability.

The question will be whether MST or the Army will take a punt on putting in the work to tweak Maul or the 3GL to fit the new rifle seamlessly. You'd have to imagine that MST aren't in a position to put up the money for it, assuming that their recent dips into the money box have been to provide cash for running costs and final testing and certification expenses for the Maul and 3GL. More wait and see...