Country of origin |
Australia |
Entered service |
1989 |
Caliber |
5.56x45 mm |
Weight (unloaded) |
3.8 kg |
Length |
805 mm |
Barrel length |
508
mm |
Muzzle velocity |
950 m/s |
Cyclic rate of fire |
650 rpm |
Practical rate of fire |
40 - 100 rpm |
Magazine capacity |
30 rounds |
Sighting range |
? |
Range of effective fire |
450 ~ 500 m |
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The Lithgow
F88 is an Australian license-produced version of the Austrian
Steyr
AUG A1. This Australian weapon is commonly known as AUSTEYR.
It was selected by Australia in 1985 as a standard issue infantry
weapon, which would replace the
M16A2
assault rifle and L1A1 self-loading rifle. Some modifications were made to AUG in order to suit local
requirements. This assault rifle was produced in a Lithgow factory
(now operated by Thales Australia). Deliveries commenced in 1989. The F88 has been exported
to New Zealand. Currently
Australian Army is looking for a new next-generation assault rifle
to replace the F88.
The F88 is a
gas-operated, selective fire weapon with a bullpup layout. It is one
of the few successful assault rifles with such layout. It is
chambered for the standard NATO 5.56x45 mm ammunition. This weapon
has got a polymer housing and employs a high level of synthetic
materials and light alloy components in its internal design. The F88
proved to be a reliable weapon with good ergonomics and decent
accuracy.
The
Lithgow F88 has a
modular design. This weapon can be
quickly adapted to a different roles by simply changing the barrel.
The standard rifle barrel is 508 mm
(20") long. There is also a carbine barrel, which is 407 mm (16") long. Barrel
replacement takes only a few seconds.
A safety
button is located above the pistol grip. The shooter uses trigger to
control the firing mode. Pulling the trigger half the way, will
result in a single shot, while the full pull will result in
full-auto fire. However the F88 has a selector, which disables the
"full-auto" firing mode. This feature was not present of the Steyr
AUG.
This weapon
is fully ambidextrous. There are two symmetrical ejection ports, one
of which is always covered. Enlarged triggerguard of this
assault rifle allows to fire wearing winter gloves.
This assault
rifle is fed from translucent polymer magazines, that hold 30
rounds. Though these magazines are not compatible with standard NATO
(M16-type)
magazines.
This assault
rifle is fitted with integral telescopic 1.5x magnification sight as
a primary sighting equipment. It is set for 300 m range. On top of
this sight there are backup iron sights. However these are used only
in case of emergency. The whole integrated sight can be used as a
carrying handle. Currently Australian Army uses an improved version
of the F88. It has a Picatinny-type scope rail instead of the
integrated sight. However the carrying handle has been deleted.
The F88 has
also got a vertical grip. When not in use, it is folded and used as
a foregrip.
The Lithgow
F88 can mount a 40 mm M203PI grenade launcher. It is a modified
version of the US
M203A1
grenade launcher, which can not be mounted on the F88, as it is
too short. It seems that rifles equipped with 407 mm (16") and 508
mm (20") barrels are capable of launching barrel-mounted riffle
grenades.
The F88 has
a bayonet lug.
This
Australian assault
rifle has its own variants, that differ from the Austrian Steyr AUG
variants.
Variants
F88 is the
baseline version with a 508 mm (20") barrel. It has a built-in
optical 1.5x magnification sight, which also acts as a carrying
handle.
F88C is a
carbine version with a 407 mm (16") barrel. The carbine version is
used by cavalry, military police, paratroopers, reconnaissance
units, and other troops, that do not require a full-size assault
rifle.
F88S-A1 is a
version with an integrated Picatinny-type scope rail. This weapon is
normally used with an optical sight. It can also mount night vision
sights or various other scopes. The carrying handle has been deleted.
F88S-A1C is
a carbine version of the F88S-A1. It has got a 407 mm (16") barrel.
F88GLA is a
designation of the F88, equipped with an M203PI underbarrel grenade
launcher. Vertical foregrip has been removed. Once fitted with a
grenade launcher, this assault rifle can no longer mount a a
bayonet.
F88T is a
training rifle, chambered for .22LR ammunition. This weapon provides
an economical training alternative with very low ammunition cost.
F88S-A2 is
an upgraded version. It has a modified gas system and larger
ejection port for improved reliability when using US ammunition.
Also the F88S-A2 has a longer Picatinny-type scope rail. Also it has
got side-mounted accessory rails for a tactical flashlight or night
aiming device. A several thousands of these assault rifled were
delivered in 2009. These are used by selected units that operate
overseas, for example in Afghanistan.
Advanced
Individual Combat Weapon, is an experimental weapon, that fully
integrated F88 assault rifle with a Metal Storm 40 mm multiple-shot
grenade launcher into a single weapon. Development of this weapon
was funded by Australian government. After successful technology
demonstration the program was stopped. The resulting weapon was too
heavy for effective military use. The loaded AICW was even heavier
than the US
XM29
OICW.
EF88 (or
Enhanced F88) is an improved versions, developed for the Australian
LAND 125 Soldier Combat System Program. It has many distinctive
upgrades and changes over the F88. It is better balanced, more
comfortable to use and even more reliable than the F88. Also the It
is significantly lighter.
F90 is
basically another designation of the EF88. It can be seen as a
new-generation version of the Lithgow F88. It was first publicly
revealed in 2012.
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