17 Jun 2014

Defence to replace standard gun

7:56 pm on 17 June 2014

The Defence Force has been given approval by the Government approval to replace its standard-issue gun, which is near the end of its useful life.

The Ministry of Defence is calling for tenders to replace more than 13,000 ageing Steyr rifles, which members of the Army, Navy and Air Force have carried since the 1980s.

In a document last year, the ministry said the rifles were coming to the end of their economic life and no longer fully meet operational needs.

Possible replacements will be trialled this year, with the new rifle to be introduced from 2016.