The SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s) is a series of 5.56x45mm bullpup assault rifles and light support weapons designed on the operation of the Armalite AR-18 and SAR-87 (An advanced AR-18 made by the rival company Sterling Armaments of Dagenham), and produced from 1985 to 1994 by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock.
In 1988 production of the rifle was transferred to the Royal Ordnance’s Nottingham Small Arms Facility (later British Aerospace, Royal Ordnance; now BAE Systems Land Systems Munitions & Ordnance).
Unlike other bullpup weapons like the FAMAS and AUG series, the L85 series has no ambidextrous ejection port, forcing it to be used right-handed only.
The SA80 can be seen in the following films, television series, anime and video games used by the following actors:
Fire Modes: Semi/Auto (safety is separate from fire selector)
L85
L85A1
The original variant of the SA80 series issued to the British forces. These were manufactured by Royal Ordnance (Formerly known as Enfield) from 1985 until 1994 after the notorious faults of the weapon in battlefield conditions.
The L85A2 is a revamped version of the L85A1 with improved components, most notably the external 'Comma' shaped combined charging handle/brass deflector and stronger internal parts. The upgrading of L85A1 rifles to the L85A2 standard was carried out by Heckler & Koch (which, at the time, belonged to BAE) between 2002 and 2006; since then further improvements have been made in response to operational requirements, including new RIS/RAS equipped foreguards and the adoption of the ACOG sight by some units in Afghanistan. The new foreguards and the adoption of the Elcan Spectre as the official replacement of the SUSAT will be applied to all British Army units over the next three to four years.
Converted from L86A1 Light Support Weapons, These are issued to AAC, RAC and some REME Crew as a personal defence weapon. Often wrongly refered to as the L22A1, this gun was never given an L designation, known only as an SA80 AFV or Armoured Fighting Vehicle.
Converted from L86A2 Light Support Weapons, These are issued to AAC Crew as a personal defense weapon. Often wrongly labelled the L22A2. The L22A1 has the same internal modification as the L85A2 and L86A2, but as the modification were done before the L22 was officially introduced it is designated the L22A1. New upgrades are now available such as the 20rnd magazine and picatinny rail systems.
The L86A1 Light Support Weapon is the sustained fire variant of the SA80 series. Many have been replaced by the FN Minimi in this role or converted into L22 Carbines for AFV/Chopper crew members as a personal defense weapon.
A revamped L86A1 LSW. The L86A2 is in limited usage along the FN Minimi, only for DMR purposes as it has superior accuracy/range. The L86A2 is also used by the ACF but only 3-Star+ Trained Cadets are allowed to use this weapon.
As of 2009/10, futher modifications have been made to L86A2s used in Afghanistan. These have the current foreguards replaced with the DD-quad RAS foreguard (with the ability to add various extras on all surfaces, such as foregrips or flashlights). The outrigger under the barrel can been removed (but bipod retained) or replaced with a RiS/RAS rail system. SUSATs retained, with the intention of replacing them with Elcan Spectre optics. These modifications have only been made to a select few units L86A2 DMRs. Those units not in, or immediately going to Afghanistan have yet to recieve the upgrades.
Added in Operation Arrowhead: British Armed Forces
2010
SA80 Prototypes
Various prototypes made by Enfield for the British Government, starting in 1969. Various models, earliest using NATO 7.62. However, both of those listed below used the experimental British 4.85mm round. When NATO adopted the US 5.56 round, the XL70 series was redesigned to fire 5.56 and renamed under the SA80 programme - Small Arms for the 1980's. This project also included an LSW (although that version had a changeable barrel). Originally, the weapon had only a SUSAT - which was built in to the rifle, and non-removable - however, there was a folding foresight (visible).
