Lithgow F88 (Austeyr)

History

The F88 Austeyr is the equivalent of the Austrian Steyr Bullpup Assault Rifle (AUG A1) used by the Australian Army around the world. The automatic weapons use the same form and function, with some changes to suit the needs of the Australian Army. The weapon retains the usual Steyr AUG "bull-fight" arrangement, with action and forage concentrated behind the pistol grip. In this way, a more compact profile was achieved, allowing the weapon to use a continuous barrel. The structure is made of heavy metal and lightweight plastic to ensure a robust, portable weapons system for Australia's frontline fighters.

The F88 is the standard service rifle for the Australian Army, as it was selected as the competitor's Bushmaster M17S semi-automatic bullpup rifle, which is detailed elsewhere on this site. The F88 is produced locally under the Thales Lithgow Small Arms Factory brand.

The F88 differs from Austria in several ways: it has improved support for SS109 and M855 NATO standard cartridges by mimicking the barrel rifles found on the US M16A2 series, and also has fully automatic deactivation, bayonet mount support (via integrated label) and a 1.5x optic set above the receiver (the support structure for the optic doubles as a carrying handle).

The original F88 production brand was called "F88 Austeyr", followed by the F88C, a carbine-type assault model with a 16-inch barrel. The F88S-A1 resulted in the use of a Picatinny rail section on top of the receiver, effectively replacing the standard 1.5x magnification sight and allowing wider use of non-standard optics and accessories.

The F88 GLA became a model of the Grenadier with the American 40mm M203 Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) unit, equipped with sighting equipment, but without the original bayonet mount. The F88T became the .22 caliber variant used for infantry rifleman training.

The F88S-A2 arrived in 2009 as an overall improved F88 with improved gas handling, an extended Picatinny top rail section, widened front attachment supports, larger ejection ports for improved housing clearance, and a new desert Color barrel scheme to differentiate types.

From the looks of it, the replacement of the F88 may already be in the works. The "Enhanced" F88 (EF88) is an integral part of the "LAND 125 Soldier Combat System" program, which is currently evaluating a modern successor to the F88 (though based on the F88-A2 itself).

Various component changes have been implemented to improve the weapon's tactical value, reliability, weight and accuracy. The export derivative of the EF88 is marketed under the auspices of Thales under the name "F90". The F90 is mentioned as a replacement for the French Army's FAMAS product line.

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes