New Beretta Defence Technologies Plan Aims to Revive UK Arms Industry and Replace SA80.

Beretta Defence Technologies UK (BDT UK) has launched its Land Industrial Strategy for Project Grayburn, presenting a proposal to replace the British Armed Forces’ SA80 rifle. The announcement was made during the DSEI 2025 exhibition in London, where BDT UK set out not only the technical vision for a next-generation service rifle but also an industrial roadmap to revive domestic small arms production in Britain. The initiative highlights the company’s willingness to create a long-term partnership with the Ministry of Defence, while offering a family of weapons tailored to NATO standards and future battlefield requirements.
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The Beretta NARP is chambered in 5.56×45 mm NATO, featuring a short-stroke piston system with a two-position regulator for normal and suppressed fire. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The SA80, in service since the mid-1980s, has gone through multiple iterations, from the original L85A1 to the upgraded A2 and A3 versions. While these improvements extended its lifespan, the rifle has been dogged by persistent criticism over ergonomics and reliability, particularly in harsh environments. The Ministry of Defence has now set 2030 as the horizon to phase out the system, opening the door for a full replacement under Project Grayburn.

BDT UK’s proposal seeks to provide that successor. The company confirmed that it will offer two rifles: the Beretta New Assault Rifle Platform (NARP), a modern AR-style system purpose-designed for the UK, and the Sako M23, a combat-proven design already adopted by Finland and Sweden. Both rifles reflect the current NATO trend towards conventional configurations, moving away from bullpup layouts like the L85.

The Beretta NARP is chambered in 5.56×45 mm NATO, featuring a short-stroke piston system with a two-position regulator for normal and suppressed fire. The design includes ambidextrous controls, a prismatic bolt carrier to reduce fouling, and thermal signature-reducing coatings. Weighing around 3.3 kilograms with a 14.5-inch barrel, the NARP prioritizes ergonomics and adaptability. It is compatible with modern optics, lasers, and suppressors, and is expected to form the basis of a modular family capable of meeting future Ministry of Defence requirements.

The Sako M23, offered alongside the NARP, comes in both 5.56×45 mm and 7.62×51 mm NATO calibres, with barrel lengths ranging from 11.5 to 20 inches. It is already in service in Finland and Sweden under the designations RK 23 and Ak 23. Like the NARP, the M23 is ambidextrous, modular, and operates with a short-stroke gas piston. Its maturity and combat record make it a low-risk option for rapid adoption.

Both rifles in the BDT UK package will be paired with the Steiner M8Xi dual focal plane scope, which offers up to 8× magnification and a built-in red dot sight for close-quarters targeting. The optic weighs around 650 to 700 grams and measures 260 millimetres, with reticles customizable to operational needs.

Replacing the SA80 with either the NARP or the M23 would bring noticeable improvements for British soldiers. The SA80’s bullpup design, while compact, was often criticized for awkward handling and slow magazine changes. By contrast, AR-configuration rifles allow faster reloads, easier accessory mounting, and closer alignment with NATO allies’ systems.

For infantry sections, the lighter weight of around 3 kilograms represents a reduction in load, improving endurance on long patrols. Ambidextrous controls mean left-handed personnel are no longer disadvantaged, while suppressor-ready designs enhance operational flexibility. In practical terms, these rifles are meant to increase soldiers confidence, accuracy, and combat effectiveness across diverse environments, from dense urban combat to expeditionary operations.

What sets Project Grayburn apart is not only the technical offering but the industrial vision. BDT UK operates a facility in Lincolnshire and has prepared plans to expand it into a dedicated small arms hub should its proposal be accepted. The Land Industrial Strategy outlines localization options ranging from partial component assembly to full domestic manufacturing.

This approach responds directly to the Ministry of Defence’s call for stronger sovereign defence capabilities. Britain has not maintained a national small arms industry for over twenty years, relying instead on imports and foreign partnerships. BDT UK’s plan, drawing on lessons from Beretta’s long-standing M9 program in the United States and its joint venture in Qatar, aims to rebuild sovereign capacity while creating jobs and strengthening the national supply chain.

The proposal comes at a moment when NATO members are reevaluating supply chain resilience in light of the war in Ukraine and wider global disruptions. For the United Kingdom, strengthening its defence industrial base is increasingly seen as a strategic necessity. Project Grayburn is therefore more than a small arms procurement program. It is an opportunity to anchor sovereignty in a sector that has been neglected for decades.

BDT UK’s message is clear: the rifles themselves are only part of the package. The broader vision is to establish a long-term strategic partnership with the Ministry of Defence, ensuring that Britain retains the ability to produce critical military equipment at home. This aligns directly with government policy and political momentum towards sovereignty and resilience in defence.

The Ministry of Defence has not yet released its selection timeline for the SA80 replacement. What is certain is that the stakes are high. The chosen rifle will serve as the British Army’s standard weapon for decades to come, shaping the operational capability of infantry units while also signalling the UK’s industrial priorities.

By offering both a brand-new platform in the Beretta NARP and a proven system in the Sako M23, BDT UK has positioned itself to meet both immediate and long-term needs. For British soldiers, the outcome could mean a more reliable and effective weapon. For the defence sector, it could mark the rebirth of sovereign small arms production on home soil.