SA80 is the designation for a family of assault weapons.
SA80 A2 comprises the Individual Weapon (IW) and the Light Support Weapon (LSW). These are the British Army's standard combat weapons. They fire NATO standard 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition. SA80 can be fitted with the Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux (SUSAT) sight and a Common Weapon Sight (CWS), which is a third generation Image Intensification (II) night sight.
Both weapons have been modified in light of operational experience, and there was a major mid-life update in 2002, which resulted in the SA80A2 series.
Over the past few years many improvements have also been made as a result of experience in Afghanistan. The rifle now has a Picatinny Rail attached with optional bipod and the SUSAT Sight has been replaced by the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG). A new plastic magazine has also been introduced.
Calibre 5.56 mm
Weight 4.98 kg (with loaded magazine and optical sight)
Length 785 mm Barrel length 518 mm
Muzzle velocity 940 m/s
Feed 30-round magazine
Effective range 400 m
Cyclic rate of fire 610-775 rpm
