February 25, 2000. Copyright 2000. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

ARMY RIFLES TO BE RECALLED

LONDON, February 25, Graphic News: ALL 300,000 of the standard rifles used by BritainÕs armed forces are set to be recalled for urgent modifications after evidence showed the weapon was prone to jamming.

The Ministry of Defence faces a bill running into tens of millions of pounds for modifying the SA80 rifle, following a report by German arms maker Heckler & Koch, which had carried out tests on the SA80 rifle and made its own modifications.

The ministry would issue its own report soon on possible improvements to the rifle, a spokesman said.

ÒWe havenÕt recalled any rifles yet and the SA80 remains a very effective weapon. It is being used in Kosovo and Bosnia where the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees celsius,Ó he said.

Fears had been raised from the start about its reliability in particularly hot, or extrememly cold, conditions after soldiers reported the rifle could jam.

The SA80 has been in active service since the late 1980s and has seen action in Northern Ireland, the Gulf War and the Balkans.

The news follows revelations earlier this week that £1bn modifications to the Royal Air ForceÕs Tornado GR-4 bomber had left it unable to drop modern laser-guided ÒsmartÓ bombs.
/ENDS

Sources: Reuters, JaneÕs Infantry Weapons