Looks like the Aussies were influenced by the KAC KS1 that the UK had selected: Thales ACAR

The Quartermaster

The Quartermaster

Verified Military
Joined
May 3, 2020
Messages
1,820
Location
Arizona

Thales ACAR​

Thales exhibited the lasted version of their Australian Combat Assault Rifle manufactured by Lithgow.

The caliber, twist rate, finish, and performance for any mission.

Calibers offered include:

5.56mm, 458 SOCOM, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm ARC and 300 BLK.

The ACAR features a cold hammer forged for superior accuracy and chrome-lined barrel for durability, and is designed Future-ready and transfer-of-technology capable to continually evolve against emerging threats.

DSEI 25 - Thales ACAR | Soldier Systems Daily

https://www.lithgowarms.com/acar/

Assault Rifles

 
Much like the US Army's new rifle - it looks VERY much like a weapon built around an M16 design platform, while TOTALLY not being a rifle that subjectively appears to have been built around an M16 design platform.

Another very original firearm for the next generation of fully semiautomatic insault rifles...
 
Box said:
Much like the US Army's new rifle - it looks VERY much like a weapon built around an M16 design platform, while TOTALLY not being a rifle that subjectively appears to have been built around an M16 design platform.

Another very original firearm for the next generation of fully semiautomatic insault rifles...
Click to expand...
I can't speak for the other nations but here in the US, we are so versed in the manual of arms on the M16 that it does make sense sticking with the same muscle memory functions.
 
Kraut783 said:
Is the Thales ACAR any good, I had not heard of them before...but, I have been out of the game for a while. Looks good....
Click to expand...
Lithgow is their version of Enfield and I'd like to say that I would trust it more than the engineers in the UK who designed the L85. Hint, there's a reason the Aussies whom always followed the UK in infantry weapons, decided not this time when the L85 was issued.

However I believe that we have two members that I know of whom are from down under and hopefully can chime in and answer.
 
Last edited:
The F90 replacement seems to be a lower priority in the LAND 159 project. They've selected the SIG Sauer MCX, in .300 Blackout as a PDW for dismounted diggers, which the ADF hasn't catered to since the early days of the F88, making do with a carbine barrelled F88.
The ACAR seems to be getting more work overseas than at home at the minute. Some have been shipped to Ukraine as part of a military aid package and Denmark is partnering with Thales for a version of the DACAR for their assault rifle project.
 
Back
Top