• The Enhanced F88. Around 30,000 units will be produced, along with 2500 SL40 grenade launcher attachments. Credit: Thales Australia
    The Enhanced F88. Around 30,000 units will be produced, along with 2500 SL40 grenade launcher attachments. Credit: Thales Australia
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The Department of Defence has signed a $100 million contract with Thales to produce rifles, grenade launchers, spare parts and various ancillaries at the company's facility in Lithgow, regional NSW.
 
The F90 or Enhanced F88 (EF88) as it will be known in Australian service, is a light, versatile weapon that meets the highest standards of performance and reliability, and has been well-received by soldiers in various trials.
 
Thales’s Armaments Vice President in Australia Kevin Wall said: "Enhancing the Austeyr is the most cost-effective way to deliver a capability upgrade, and we’ve worked closely with Defence and Army units to design, test and manufacture this weapon. We’re now looking forward to getting it into troops’ hands as quickly as possible".
 

"Deliveries to the ADF will begin in the next few weeks and be phased over six years."


 
The rifle marks a significant enhancement of the original Austeyr F88. Two versions will be delivered – a standard rifle with a 20” barrel, plus a carbine with a 16” barrel. Deliveries to the ADF will begin in the next few weeks and phased over six years. Lithgow Arms will produce 30,000 rifles along with 2500 SL40 grenade launchers.
 
Thales is currently exploring export opportunities for the F90 in various markets around the world, while also developing further enhancements for the rifle, which is fitted for but not with electronic architecture including centralised power as a key future-proofing measure.
 
 
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