L85 Individual Weapon
SA80
Introduction
L85A1
Left side view of L85A1 assault rifle with SUSAT sight.
Source: UK MOD -
© Open Government License
United Kingdom - Royal Ordnance
L85A1
IW / Individual Weapon
Variants
L85A1
Original variant of the SA80 assault rifle adopted for service. Most of these rifles were fitted with the SUSAT 4x optical sight. For second line use the L85A1 was fitted with a front sight post and a carry handle with rear sight instead of the optical sight.
L85A2
Improvement program for about 200.000 existing L85A1 carried out by Heckler & Koch in the early 2000's. Externally the L85A2 looks rather similar to the A1. The receivers are marked "HK A2".
L85A2 (2009 TES)
L85A2 fitted with accessories for front line service in Afghanistan. The Theater Entry Standards replaces the SUSAT with with an ACOG TA31F with RMR red dot sight on top. A special riser is fitted for the ACOG sight. The forearm is replaced by a Daniel Defense one with quad Picatinny accessory rails. These are used with a grip pod and laser and light module.
L85A2 (2011 TES)
From 2010 onward the TES was improved further. At first by using a "HK A3" receiver with Picatinny rail firmly attached to the receiver. The ACOG was replaced by the ELCAN SpecterOS 4x with with red dot sight on top. Other additions during this time include new laser and light units and EMAG polymer magazines.
Details
Media
L85A2
UK soldier taking aim with an L85A2 near the city of Basra in Iraq in 2003.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2 (2011 TES)
UK soldier taking aim with his L85A2 assault rifle with SpecterDR optical sight and new laser and light module on the Daniel Defense handguard.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2
Soldier of the parachute regiment kneeling with his L85A2 assault file in Iraq in 2003.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2
Dutch marine taking aim with L85A2 assault rifle during weapon familiarization in 2004. Note the C7 LSW light machine gun in the background.
Source: US Marine Corps
Copyright: Public domain
L85A2 with L123A1 UGL
Soldier of the parachute regiment taking aim with his accessorized L85A2 with L123A1 under barrel grenade launcher as seen during an exercise in Kenya in 2020.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2
UK members of the Joint Helicopter Command firing their L85A2 rifles during arctic training in 2021.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2
Royal Marine Commandos with L85A2 rifles during an exercise in 2008.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2
Close-up of L85A2 upgrade being tested in hot climate in Kuwait in 2001.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A2
UK soldier with L85A2 assault rifle with TA31F ACOG scope on a riser and holding the grip pod attached to the Picatinny rail forearm.
Source: UK MOD
Copyright: Open Government License
L85A1
Right side view of L85A1 assault rifle set up with iron sights and carry handle.
Source: Royal Armouries
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Related articles
FN FAL
The SA80 was developed to replace the L1A1 FAL rifle in UK military service.
L86 Light Support Weapon
The L86 Light Support Weapon is a light machine gun derived from the L85 assault rifle.
Steyr AUG
The Austrian Steyr AUG is a bullpup assault rifle that entered service several years before the L85A1.