Sig Sauer and Melbourne-based Aquaterro have announced an agreement to manufacture, assemble, upgrade, and support small arms platforms and capability systems for the duration of the capability life cycle.
The agreement means that the ADF will be able to access modular, integrated firearms solutions with the aim of delivering small arms overmatch to soldiers.
Aquaterro is a current contract holder and provider to Land 125 and Land 53, and is the sole provider of systems and lifecycle support for Sig Sauer small arms integrated weapons to all Australian agencies.
The company aims to expand its strategic partnership with Sig Sauer through a purpose-built facility due to open next year, which will accomodate an expanded workforce in southeast Melbourne. In a statement, Aquaterro said the expansion will allow the company to offer turn-key, vertically integrated capability solutions for the capabilities sought by Land 159, Land 4108, and Land 1508.
A number of Sig Sauer small arms are in use around the world. In 2017, the US Army’s Modular Handgun System chose the Sig Sauer P320-based M17. In 2018 the P320 X-Carry was selected by the Danish Ministry of Defence as their standard service pistol covering the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command.
Sig Sauer is currently competing for the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle program that is intended to replace the M249 Minimi.
Keep an eye out for the September edition of ADM for further updates on small arms programs.