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United Kingdom BAE Systems
L85A3 (SA80A3)
The third-generation upgrade of the British Army's SA80 bullpup service rifle, reworked by Heckler & Koch with a free-floating barrel, full-length Picatinny rail, M-LOK handguard and a Flat Dark Earth finish. It keeps the 5.56 mm SA80 in front-line UK service well into the 2020s.
In service since 2018 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-05
400
m range
700
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.
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 Stronger than 26% of rifles
- Rate of fire
Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.
- 700 rpm Stronger than 48% of rifles
- Muzzle velocity
Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.
- 940 m/s Top 9% of rifles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- 5.56x45 mm NATO
- 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 Stronger than 57% of rifles
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 0.77 m
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 4 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.
- 518 mm
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
- Caliber
Bore diameter the round is fired from.
- 6 mm
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 1 Bottom 7% of rifles
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-05.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3) require? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3) requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3)? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3)'s primary weapon is the 5.56x45 mm NATO.
What is the BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3) used for? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3) is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3)? +
The BAE Systems L85A3 (SA80A3) is operated by 1 countries.
