Breaking news
New Zealand Defence Force chooses LMT for its Individual Weapon Replacement program 21808151.
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Defence & Security News - New Zealand
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| New Zealand Defence Force chooses LMT for its Individual Weapon Replacement program | |||
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Following the trials programme phase of the evaluation of tenders, New Zealand's Ministry of Defense has selected Lewis Machine & Tool Co Inc of the USA as preferred Tenderer for its Individual Weapon Replacement program. This project will replace the existing New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Steyr rifle with a new individual weapon.
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 The New Zealand Defense Force currently uses Steyr AUG 5.56×45mm rifles |
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In May 2014, the New Zealander Government authorised the Secretary of Defence to undertake a competitive tender process to select a replacement individual weapon for the NZDF. The New Zealand Defense Force currently uses Steyr AUG rifles, a 5.56×45mm assault rifle designed in the 1960s. The replacement of about 8,800 rifles is part of a larger firearms replacement program.
A Request for Tender for the provision of contemporary individual weapons, necessary training, and associated support to the NZDF closed on 12 November 2014. Following the evaluation of the tender responses, the companies listed below were selected for the trials programme phase of the evaluation, which was undertaken between 2 March and 1 June 2015. Other competitors Beretta New Zealand Limited, Ceská zbrojovka a.s., Colt Canada Corporation, FN HERSTAL, STEYR MANNLICHER GmbH, XTEK Limited (Sig Sauer), and Heckler & Kock GmbH. Lewis Machine & Tool is already providing its products to US military and UK Ministry of Defense, which has chosen the LM308MWS 7.62x51mm rifle in 2009. |
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