The Australian Federal Government has signed a multi-million dollar agreement with a Queensland company to start acquiring and supplying the next generation of small arms for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The contract is part of a AUD$500 million plus commitment to provide Australia’s soldiers, sailors and aviators with enhanced lethality weapon systems. The Lethality System Project (LAND 159) Tranche 1 contract to Queensland-based company NIOA, in the lead-up to the Land Forces 2022 Exposition in Brisbane. Between now and the mid-2020s, NIOA will use a range of sub-contractors to supply new sniper rifles, pistols, shotguns, personal defence weapons, fighting knives, and an assault breaching system to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), with many of the new weapons to be on display at Land Forces.
New weapons systems to be acquired include:
Australian manufacturer ZU Bladeworx’s Double-Edged Fighting Knife
The SIG Sauer P320 XCarry Pro – selected as the platform for the Sidearm Weapon System.
The Benelli M3A1 – selected as the platform for the Combat Shotgun System.
The SIG Sauer MCX, in .300 Blackout calibre – selected as the platform for the Personal Defence Weapon System.
The Accuracy International AX-SR – selected as the platform for the Long Range Sniper Capability
The Sniper Surveillance Capability – selected to provide ADF snipers
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Incorporated M107A1 rifle – selected as the platform for the Anti-Material Sniper Capability.
The Australian Defense Department has just made their first order for the new SIG Sauer P320 XCarry Pro modular semi-automatic pistols worth $20 million (AUD$30 million). The Australian Defense Force selected the SIG Sauer P320 XCarry Pro as their next sidearm. The P320 XCarry Pro will replace the venerable Browning Hi-Power under Australia’s Lethality System Project LAND 159. The pistols will be supplied by SIG Sauer’s Australian partner Aquaterro. The new service pistol will be paired with a SIG ROMEO2 Red Dot Sight and SIG FOXTROT2 Weapon Light. Aquaterro was also selected to supply the new Personal Defense Weapon System (PDWS) into Lethality System Project LAND 159, consisting of the SIG MCX, ROMEO4T Optic, JULIET4 Magnifier, and SIG Suppressors.
The SIG Sauer P320 is a modular semi-automatic pistol made by SIG Sauer, Inc., SIG Sauer’s American branch. It is a further development of the SIG Sauer P250, utilizing a striker-fired mechanism in lieu of a double action only hammer system. The P320 can be chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 10mm Auto and can be easily converted from one caliber to another; a change from .357 SIG to .40 S&W requires only a barrel change; a change between 9mm to .357 SIG or .40 S&W and vice versa are accomplished using a caliber exchange kit. The P320 chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum was introduced in the North American market on 15 January 2014, followed by the .45 ACP compact model at the SHOT Show in January 2015.
