The SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s) is a series of 5.56x45mm bullpup assault rifles and light support weapons designed on the Armalite AR-18 operation 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).
The SA80 can be seen in the following films, television series, anime and video games used by the following actors:
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.
Revamped L85A1 rifles by Heckler & Koch from 2001-? with improved components, Most notably the external 'Comma' shaped combined charging handle/brass deflector.
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 Many have been replaced by the FN Minimi in this role or converted into L22 Carbines for AFV/Chopper crew members as a personal defence weapon. The L86A1 is also used by the ACF but only 3-Star+ Trained Cadets are allowed to use this weapon.
