Army: problem rifle is 'highly reliable'

The much-maligned SA80 rifle is a "highly reliable" weapon, a top military commander said yesterday as he announced a training programme to build confidence in it.

Commander-in-Chief Land Forces General Sir Mike Jackson said that problems encountered by the Royal Marines in Afghanistan had been largely due to the troops not being properly instructed in how to clean the weapon.

"After pretty intensive trials and exercises we are confident that we have got the weapon we need and want," General Jackson said.

The decision to keep using the weapon was taken after it achieved 95 per cent reliability – as against a target of 90 per cent – in trials held in Oman.

The Oman tests were ordered after Marines on Operation Jacana in Afghanistan had complained that the SA80 A2 – which was upgraded at a cost of £92m – was still suffering from jamming problems similar to those which affected the original SA80 A1.

As a result of the tests the rifle, which has already had 110 parts modified, is to have a series of further minor modifications including new muzzle caps, safety catches and cleaning equipment.