The contract — announced by head of Land Systems, Major General Andrew Bottrell in the lead-up to the Land Forces 2022 Exposition — aims to ensure the ADF is equipped for the modern warfighting environment, ensuring an advantage against adversaries beyond 2030.

Deliverables under Tranche 1 of the program include:

• new sniper systems;
• surveillance and target acquisition devices;
• pistols;
• shotguns;
• fighting knives;
• personal defence weapons; and
• munitions and an assault breaching system.

As part of the contract, NIOA is expected to acquire selected weapon systems, while also delivering support services for verification and validation, certification and introduction into service, and through life support.

Specifically, NIOA is expected to facilitate the procurement of:

• ZU Bladeworx’s double-edged fighting knife: a black, double-edged fighting knife with a 100mm blade — machined from a solid billet of A2 steel and features a non-slip handle and retention ring.
• The SIG Sauer P320 XCarry Pro, selected as the platform for the Sidearm Weapon System, set to replace the Browning Mk3 pistol.
• 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 with a day and night capability utilising the Safran JIM Compact multispectral surveillance device and Steiner laser range-finding binoculars.
• The M107A1 rifle, manufactured by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Incorporated, selected as the platform for the Anti-Material Sniper Capability.

NIOA’s receipt of the contract follows its appointment in July 2020 to conduct an approach to market and evaluation of sniper and close combat systems and to provide recommendations and cost data to support Defence decisions.

NIOA CEO Robert Nioa said in recommending the weapons systems, NIOA leveraged a best-of-breed approach, aimed at maximising industry participation.

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“The battlefield capability increase that these next-generation weapons provide is a game-changer for our warfighters,” he said.

“NIOA is proud of its role in this project. Protecting our national security means teamwork at every level — government, Defence and industry.

“As an Australian-owned company, we feel strongly about assisting the Commonwealth government to meet the sovereign capability priorities of today and tomorrow.”

 [Related: NIOA, SureFire team up for rifle suppressors project ]

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