This is a list of equipment of the British Army currently in use. It includes current equipment such as small arms, combat vehicles, explosives, missile systems, engineering vehicles, logistical vehicles, vision systems, communication systems, aircraft, watercraft, artillery, air defence, transport vehicles, as well as future equipment and equipment being trialled.
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of British Armed Forces. Since the end of the Cold War, the British Army has been deployed to a number of conflict zones, often as part of an expeditionary force, a coalition force or part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation.
To meet its commitments, the equipment of the Army is periodically updated and modified. Programs exist to ensure the Army is suitably equipped for both current conflicts and expected future conflicts, with any shortcomings in equipment addressed as Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR), which supplements planned equipment programmes.
Infantry section equipment Each rifle section typically consists of 8 soldiers. They are each commanded by a corporal assisted by a lance corporal acting as section second-in-command (2IC). The section is further subdivided into 2 fireteams. The section commander typically commands the Charlie Fire Team, while the 2IC commands the Delta Fire Team.
While equipment formations can be tailored as required by section and platoon commanders, infantry sections are usually issued with the following:
Charlie Fire Team (4 men) 1× Section Commander, Corporal (OR-4), armed with 1 L85A3 rifle and 1 Glock 17 pistol 1× Rifleman, Private (OR-2), armed with 1 L85A3 rifle 1× Grenadier, Private (OR-2), armed with 1 L85A3 rifle and 1 L123A2 under-barrel grenade launcher 1× Sharpshooter, Private (OR-2), armed with 1 L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle Delta Fire Team (4 men) 1× Second-in-Command, Lance Corporal (OR-3), armed with 1 L85A3 rifle and 1 Glock 17 pistol 1× Rifleman, Private (OR-2), armed with 1 L85A3 rifle 1× Grenadier, Private (OR-2), armed with 1 L85A3 rifle and 1 L123A2 under-barrel grenade launcher 1× Machine Gunner, Private (OR-2), armed with 1 L7A2 general-purpose machine gun
The rifles are typically paired with the ELCAN SpecterOS 4× Lightweight Day Sight (LDS) with a mini-red dot sight (MRD) mounted on the top and a foregrip with an integrated bipod (grenadiers are not issued a foregrip/bipod because they have the L123A2 under-barrel grenade launcher in its place).
The section also operates NLAW disposable ATGMs, as well as multiple L109A2 high explosive grenades, and L83A1 smoke grenades. Specialist equipment such as claymore mines, L26A1 bangalore torpedoes, L128A1 combat shotgun, etc, is available if there is a requirement.
Vision systems Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux (SUSAT) or SpecterOS Lightweight Day Sights (LDS) - for use with the SA80. Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) - to be used with the L129A1 Sharpshooter. ARILLS (Assault Rifle In-Line Low Light Sight) - new infrared / thermal imaging sight for the SA80 A3. Laser Light Module (LLM Mk3) - used for aiming and illumination with the SA80 A3. Jim Compact Sight - new infared binoculars that can spot targets from more than 5 km away, have both thermal and low-level light capabilities and can take HD pictures and video recordings. It also has a laser positioning system. Magnum Universal Night Sight (MUNS) - high-resolution clip-on night vision weapon sight for the L129A1 Sharpshooter. Detects and recognizes man-size targets in excess of 800 meters. FIST Thermal Sight (FTS) - thermal imaging scope designed to be mounted on rifles and light machine guns. Acquired as part of the MoD's Future Integrated Soldier Technology. Common Weapon Sight (CWS) - image-intensification night vision scope for weapons or handheld surveillance. Head mounted Night Vision System (HNVS), based on the American AN/PVS-14. Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PM II - 25x magnification day scope for the L115A3 Sniper Rifle. Sniper Thermal Imaging Capability (STIC) - thermal imagining sight that is mounted on the L115A3 and AX50. The command launch unit (CLU) of the Javelin anti-tank missile contains a sophisticated thermal imaging sensor that can double as a reconnaissance tool. SMASH X4 sighting system - anti-drone sight mounted on the SA80 A3 that automatically acquires a target from the sight’s field-of-view, and then displays a box around the target in the shooter’s reflex sight, only allowing the shooter to fire when the sight is aligned to hit the target.
Communications equipment Personal Role Radio (PRR) - small, light UHF radio with a range of 500m and a battery life of 20 hours, issued to every member of the Infantry section. Bowman Combat Net Radio - secure HF, VHF, UHF voice and data communications. The MoD plans to replace Bowman with a system named Morpheus in the future. Falcon - joint tactical trunk communications system for the Land Environment. Reacher - is a mobile X-Band Satellite Ground Terminal that uses the Skynet V military satellite network Small SATCOM - the satellite ground terminal is reasonably lightweight (41 kg) and can be set up by a single trained operator in less than 30 minutes, also using the Skynet V network. Skynet - is a family of military communications satellites, they provide strategic and tactical communication services to the branches of the British Armed Forces, the British intelligence agencies, some UK government departments and agencies, and to allied governments including the Five Eyes intelligence alliance members (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States). Tactical Satellite Communications (TACSAT) - use low orbiting communications satellites to relay radio signals between operators. The advantage to this method is the ability to communicate in remote areas out of reach of terrestrial transmitters.
Weapons Pistols Name Origin Type Cartridge Image Details Glock 17 L131A1 Glock 19 L137A1 Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Replaced the L9A1 pistol, the Pistol No 2 Mk 1, the L47A1 pistol, and the L105A1/A2, L106A1, L107A1, and L117A1/A2 pistols. Primary weapon of personnel working in operational staff appointments and vehicle commanders and carried as a backup weapon by frontline personnel. Over 25,000 were purchased for use by all branches of the British Armed Forces. The compact Glock 19 variant was also adopted.
Infantry rifles Name Origin Type Cartridge Image Details SA80 L85A2, L85A3, L22A2 Assault rifle (L85A2/A3) Carbine (L22A2) 5.56×45mm NATO Standard issue assault rifle, known as the SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s). Primarily fitted with either SUSAT, ACOG, Elcan SpecterOS 4X or Thermal Viper 2 sights. The Laser Light Module Mk3 and the L123 Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) can also be attached. A shortened carbine variant, the L22A2, is used primarily by vehicle and helicopter crews for self-defence and by dog handlers.
As of February 2025, there was a total inventory of 125,276 SA80 A2 rifles and 40,144 SA80 A3 rifles across the MOD. LMT MWS MARS-H L129A1, L129A2 (Sharpshooter configuration) Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO The Sharpshooter has been issued since 2010 to augment the long-range firepower of infantry sections. It is equipped with an 6x48 ACOG optical sight, with an in-line Magnum Universal Night Sight providing night-time capability. Colt C8 L119A1 Carbine (Officially designated and treated as a rifle) 5.56×45mm NATO The C8 Carbine is used by; the Special Air Service, 16 Air Assault Brigade's Pathfinder Platoon, 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment and other Army components of the Special Forces Support Group, the Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit, and the Ranger Regiment. The L119A1 is also used by the Army component of 3 Commando Brigade after the Royal Marines began to use it as a replacement for their L85A3s.
An A2 variant was developed for United Kingdom Special Forces use, while other units continue to employ the A1 version. Colt C8 IUR L119A2 Carbine (Officially designated and treated as a rifle) 5.56×45mm NATO Update to the L119A1 includes:
New LMT licensed monolithic upper receiver Magpul CRT stock Ergo Grip Ambidextrous controls Geissele trigger group
Two separate variants:
Full size at 400mm (15.7 inch) barrel
Short size at 267mm (10 inch) barrel KS-1 rifle L403A1 Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Chosen to serve as the Alternative Individual Weapon of the Ranger Regiment and other Army Special Operations Brigade components, the L403A1 is the Knight's Stoner 1 variant of the Knight's Armament Company SR-16 fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system to mask the weapon from detection and a magnified optic. An initial order of 1,620 systems has been placed, with an option to procure up to 10,000 systems over the next decade.
Bladed weapons Name Origin Type Image Details L3A1 Socket bayonet The L3A1 bayonet has a hollow handle that fits onto the muzzle of the L85 rifle with the blade offset to the side so that the rifle can be fired while the bayonet is fitted. It is shaped to produce good penetration when thrust and has a ribbed section for rope cutting. The bayonet can be used as a knife when needed. The L3A1's scabbard features a saw blade for use on wood, a sharpening stone and a bottle opener. The scabbard and bayonet can be combined to form a wire cutter. A rail-mounted adaptor was developed to allow the bayonet to be used with the L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle. Kukri Fighting-utility knife The Kukri is in service with the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army.
Long range rifles Name Origin Type Cartridge Image Details LMT MWS MARS-H L129A1, L129A2 (Sniper Support Weapon configuration) Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO A configuration of the L129 issued to sniper pairs for use by the spotter. It is fitted with a L17A2 scope (Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50) and, usually, a suppressor. Accuracy International AWM L115A3, L115A4 Bolt action sniper rifle 8.6x70 mm (.338 Lapua Magnum) The Accuracy International AWM (known in British service as the L115A3/4) is the primary precision rifle for British Armed Forces snipers. The L115A3 entered service with British forces in 2008.
The A3 model used by the Special Forces had a requirement to fire a bullet.
The L115A3 was developed as part of the Sniper System Improvement Programme (SSIP) to replace the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare (L96) and Accuracy International AWM (L115A1) sniper rifles. Accuracy International AS50 Anti materiel sniper rifle 12.7×99mm NATO Highly accurate long range anti-materiel rifle that is lightweight with a titanium frame. High rate of fire (5 rounds in 1.6 seconds). Barrett M82 L135A1 Anti materiel sniper rifle 12.7×99mm NATO Recoil-operated, semi-automatic, anti-materiel rifle. The British Army uses the M82A1 under the L135A1 Long Range Precision Anti-Structure (LRPAS) Rifle designation.
Submachine guns Name Origin Type Cartridge Image Details HK MP5 L92A1, L91A1, L80A1, L90A1 Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Used by UKSF and the Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit. The weapon comes in multiple variants from the standard L92A1 (MP5A3) and the integrally suppressed L91A1 (MP5SD3) to the more easily concealable L80A1 (MP5K) and L90A1 (MP5KA1) which are stockless and have vertical foregrips. The weapons no longer see extensive use but are retained for hostage rescue operations in non-hostile environments since their 9×19mm ammunition is less likely to ricochet or over-penetrate.
Machine guns NameOriginTypeCartridgeImageDetails FN MAG