The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced its intention to award a £4 million contract to Colt Canada Corporation for the supply of C8 rifle spares and accessories, according to a tender notice published on 19 February 2025.
The contract will run for an initial two-year period, with options to extend for a further three years.
The contract covers essential components for the C8 rifle platform, a widely used firearm among UK specialist military units. According to the MoD, the contract will “provide C8 Rifle Spares and Accessories for a period of 2 years with 3 option years”, ensuring continued support and maintenance of these critical weapons.
The contract is expected to run from 8 August 2025 to 7 August 2027, with potential extensions based on operational requirements.
The MoD has confirmed that the contract will be awarded without prior publication of a competitive tender, citing technical reasons under Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The justification states:
“It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons.”
The MoD argues that Colt Canada Corporation is the only supplier capable of fulfilling this requirement, due to its “significant niche expertise, technical ‘know-how’ and acquired specific experience to source quality spares and manage the supply chain / delivery process.”
The notice further states:
“Colt Manufacturing is the manufacturer and has appointed Colt Canada Corporation as the sole distributor of spares in the UK which support C8 Platform components. Colt Canada Corporation has been granted the rights from Colt Manufacturing to the technical specifications required to undertake the manufacture, testing and supply, and they do not share this knowledge/expertise with any third party.”
The MoD has appointed Babcock Land Defence Limited as its agent for the procurement process. The notice specifies:
“Babcock Land Defence Limited is acting as Agent on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.”
Interested suppliers or industry stakeholders with queries regarding the procurement process are instructed to direct their questions to Babcock in the first instance.
The Colt Canada C8
Designated as the L119A1/A2 in British service, is primarily used by the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) and certain specialised units.
The Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) have adopted the L119A1/A2 as their standard assault rifle, replacing older models like the M16 and C7. Other units that use the L119A1/A2 include:
- Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)
- Special Forces Support Group (SFSG)
- Pathfinder Platoon (16 Air Assault Brigade)
- 43 Commando Royal Marines
- Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit
The L119A1/A2 comes in different barrel lengths, including a 15.7-inch version for general use and a 10-inch compact model suited for close-quarters combat. These carbines have flat-top receivers for mounting optics, rail systems for accessories, and adjustable telescoping stocks for versatility in different operational environments.
That C8 users list is really non exhaustive. They have this habit of cropping up in small numbers for specialist tasks all the time.
Makes a lot of sense- I’d like to see HMG ordering a big quantity of rifles in, whilst we still can and before the inevitable war with Russia. The UK needs to be able to arm over a hundred thousand men quickly and the next 100,000 within a few months, we wont be able to do that unless the guns, ammunition, uniforms, helmets and body armour are already waiting in stores and stockpiles.
It’s not at all inevitable a war with Russia is going to happen. They can’t even invade Ukraine.
Doesn’t hurt to be ready, we’ve rested on our laurels for too long, those days are over, and a regrouped, more experienced Russia MK2 in 5 years time will likely be a completely different animal to the incompetent rabble we seen on the initial invasion
This is the type of thinking which has led ruzzia to invade Ukraine. If the West thinks war wont happen, it’ll increase the chances of it happening.
Like a Tory MP said in parliament the other day, “We have to be prepared to fight a war we dont want to fight”. (may not be exactly word for word).
Mr B, very good point. I have long since wondered if there is kit for Regular Reservists, let alone a larger cohort. Also it might not be totally cynical to question if the Army Reserve units have all they need including sufficient organic transport.
Yup, it is good to see some of the wider equipment and materiel fixes being put in place and all the money not being hoovered by the big projects.
It is interesting that a stream of what-you-need-or-need-fixed-to-fight-now announcements are coming out. I’m surprised we haven’t head about stockpiling M270 war shots TBH – problem there may be manufacturing capacity as UKR could be using them as fast as they can be made?
I’m wondering how we are going to pay for this without borrowing. The welfare and NHS are protected budgets as is overseas aid…so we’ll need to borrow (at high interest rates) or squeeze funding in other areas….good luck with that….
Welfare budget needs to be cut. 3.8 million on universal benefit/ unemployed.
Triple lock pension needs to be abolished as financial unaffordable. That should yield a few billion over the term of this parliament
Cut civil servant numbers in the MOD, NHS etc. aiming for a 10% reduction across all departments will yield £10 billion savings/ year. Precisely the amount needed to get to 2.5% GDP/ defence ratio.
We could try getting everyone to contribute towards the costs, say tuppence in each pound they earn. I call it “tuppence against xenophobia ” or there is a catchy acronym; TAX.
@Graham Whatever happened to the guy who was adamant that every MT department was going to be cut on December 31st and was like “mark my words”
Apropos of nothing you just reminded me is all lol
@Dern, good point. I cannot recall who that was now. Perhaps they have gone back to hide under that rock!
It was a “Tom.”
Ah I remember that poster, quite amusing as if I remember Dern you were chatting to the blokes in your invisible MT section while he was telling you it was no longer there 😆👍
They probably have the full complement of weapons in their armouries but as for Transport and Equipment, highly unlikely. One problem is insufficient space in existing training centers. Probably enough held in large central storage somewhere much the same as PPE during the BAOR during the cold war days. The fun of trying to find specific items packed somewhere in hundreds of boxes was always a joy.
Great point you highlight PPE. Don’t know if you served through or immediately beyond that period. If so you will remember stocks being released for training as it neared its shelf life. All vacuum packed. Nearly all bloody useless. Rubber gloves stuck together, suits delaminating and ripping. Can be very costly storing stuff. Someone on here may know what happened to the Ammo in Belize. Huge stockpile there in 1993 as it was running down. Especially 105mm. The battery at the time got some good range days out of it. Did not make a dent in it. Barrel wear was… Read more »
One of the things Ukraine has shown is that holding the required amount of weapons / ammunition that various governments had come up with was way short of reality. Basically, when all else fails, you end up being back at WW1 or earlier. And in WW1 artillery was king, unless you could move fast enough that artillery could not keep up or had a general that knew what he was doing (in WW1 that was a handful at best). Bayonets were used in the Falklands. The last know bayonet charge by a NATO nation was in 2004. Ukraine should not… Read more »
no there were bayonet charges by UK marines and Army in Afghan more recently
Andy – yes, 2011, I believe, unless someone can come up with a later date. My mistake. Doesn’t change the point I was trying to make though (but thanks for the correction).
Alex, I agree that AR Training Centres probably don’t hold a full complement of vehicles and other bulky equipment. How about radios? Hmmm, not sure about any of this. I was never close to the TA (then later, the AR) world. Perhaps we need an on-side MP to pose a quesion in PMQs!
How about Mr Cartlidge!
People
Apparently the Ranger regiment are gona use it but but not the Paras. Well 2 & 3 reg
Rangers do not use the L119, they use the L403/KS-1.
2 & 3 Para use L85/SA80
1 Para uses L119/C8
Rifles are the least of our worries. There was an article in the telegraph that claimed the SAS were thinking of going on strike and not going to Ukraine if ordered (plus many of them are quitting the SAS and morale has collapsed). Their argument was that the ECHR is now being applied in theatres of war and they do not want to be up before ambulance chasing lawyers in 20 years time. It’s quite understandable given old men being dragged before the courts for things they can’t remember doing 30 or 40 years ago (and was part of their… Read more »
And if the ECHR weren’t being applied the Law of Armed Conflict would still. The SAS can’t go around slotting people because they feel like it. The Special Boat Service (a much more professional outfit) are giving evidence against them for their latest behaviour in Syria.
Without strong moral standards we become just another “Evil empire” ourselves, rather than one opposing them. Our opposition to torture collapsed entirely after 9/11, where we shot ourselves in the foot. Trouble is our leaders(& media-flims & TV) have become feral on morality, contributing greatly to the general slide into casual barbarism. Simply being a slightly lighter shade of darkness than those we’re fighting is a delusion.
Morality is a double edged sword. You prosecute a few SF soldiers because they pushed the limits. They are SF soldiers because they push the limits. That’s why they exist. Can you get anywhere near these limits? Do you want SF soldiers or not? If not, plenty of other countries will happily sign them up.
Hi Dj.
If limits aren’t limits they’re not limits & you end up allowing anyone to do whatever. That is unacceptable. What the courts decide is wether servicemen have exceeded limits criminally. But if you’re happy to allow a thief to “push the limits” & rob you, or a speeding motorist to kill someone you love, then that’s fine?
If we would prosecute an enemy for behaving in a way we allow our troops, then we have to accept we’ve failed our own limits.
Frank They (the military) have spent millions on getting SF to the limit. I doubt you (& definitely not me), can get anywhere near this level. If you purposely have people sitting on the limit by design, it’s inevitable some will cross over at times (there isn’t a big yellow line). Have you ever exceeded the speed limit? Did you know you exceeded it before you looked at the speedometer? Did you get away with it? Unlike speed limits, other limits are not quite so easily measured & if someone was trying to kill you, do you really care? If… Read more »
Matthew, Who in the British Army is talking about conscription? We have only ever initiated conscription when embarking on a World War.
What will our Women use ?
How does this fit in with the recent announcement tgat a Knights Armament AR15 derivative (and sound moderator) was being purchased for the Rangers, Airborne Pathfinders etc.?
I just means they won’t be scrapping the existing L119 Colt Canada Rifles anytime soon. I assumed the KAC rifles would be picked up by the SAS etc as well but looks like that won’t be the case. It looks like the Royal Marines intend to purchase a derivative of the SIG MCX as well. Will be interesting to see what eventually replaces the SA80 which is expected to go on out of service around 2030.
It’s not bring purchased for Airborne and Pathfinders. 16AA is staying on L85, Pathfinders I believe are on c8s anyway.
Any way, this is not a contract for new rifles, but for spares for rifles already kn service.
These are spares for the existing C8s to keep them going. THE Alternative Individual Rifles are in for Rangers and the RM Commando Units – units that previously used the L85A3. So my reading is; if they use C8 (L119) they stay on it.
Also a huge leap in L number:
https://armourersbench.com/2024/05/26/hands-on-the-uks-l403a1-knights-armament-ks-1/
Of this:
https://youtu.be/uiXUu08qrGs?si=hGzA8IA9k0L_VJeB
Any idea if there is a reserve stock of SLRs and SMGs?
I think the answer to “Is there a reserve stock of SLR’s” is “LoL NO!”
There is no strategic war reserve of small arms to give to a mobilised population if that is what you are asking. There will be some SLRs around, maybe enough for a battalion.
The powers that be assume that the next war will be 10 years after written notification is received informing them of said future war. So at a conservative rate of 10,000 rifles per year, there should be 100,000 rifles available in 10 years time when the war is scheduled to start (provided someone actually remembered to place the order).
DJ, a clever notion. Perhaps you should propose it to MoD and Rachel from Accounts.
That ’10-year rule’ was going in the 1920s, not the 2020s!
Graham
My post was a joke aimed at government procurement. Obviously it was a dud.
Seriously though, I get the impression that government thinks that if things go pear shaped, all the basics will just ramp up overnight. The last war when anyone got any notice was WW2. Items like rifles should be ordered every year to keep the line open. Don’t order 100,000 that get delivered in 2 years. Like ship building, boom & bust will cost more (in time & money) in the long run.
Brian, are you joking? We just do not keep equipment that has been formally decalared ‘Obsolete’ and has been superseded. Neither do we have old Centurions, Chieftains and Chally 1s languising in a shed at Ashchurch for WW3.
Given the ISD of SA80 was 1985/86, and the issue programme took several years (my own REME unit converted in 1991), then I would have expected SLRs and SMGs to all have gone by about 1992/93. Many SLRs went to the Sierra Leone army.
Also the SA80 program produced nearly 400,000 rifles. That’s increasing the size of the Regular and Army Reserve 3x over before a single SLR would need to come out of storage.
Let’s hope not, as they may start issuing SMGs…..would take the SLR again though!
Most SLRs in the UK and Canada were cut up and disposed of or sold as parts kits to American collectors and budget manufacturers in the 90s and early 00s. To be fair that happened to most of the European inventories of FAL. Though some from the Belgian Gendarmerie made it managed to make it to Ukraine.
I didn’t see that coming, I would of thought they’d of rushed Grayburn through before spending on old stock, mind you makes sense in today’s world and the pace things are going at.
I suppose it’s needed, and the is a long way to go with Project Grayborn.
Speaking of that, i wonder if they will stay with Pull-up or move to a more conventional layout.
And then what round to utilise. Lol, perhaps uk had it right with .280 British?
Bullpup darn fat fingers and auto correct
What is it with people not reading the article?
What do you mean?