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WARFARE(^16) | AsiAn MilitAry review |
Sniper System (CSASS); KAR-
7.62mm rifle; 5.56mm Infantry Automatic
Rifle; 5.56mm Sub-Compact Weapon
(also unveiled at SHOT 2017); and R0951-
10 7.62mm carbine. However, the move is
unlikely to have any effect on an existing
Australian Department of Defence (DOD)
contract, signed in August 2015, with
Thales’ Australian subsidiary, to equip
the Australian army with 30000 EF
assault rifles from the company. Speaking
to AMR, Colt’s director for international
sales, Matthew Fehmel, explained how
the M5 Enhanced Carbine has been
designed as an assault rifle series for the:
“modern (soldier) and special weapons
law enforcement professional when
weight, comfort and adaptability are
critical ... Today’s battlefields demand
the accuracy, reliability and performance
of the Advanced Colt Carbine-Monolithic
one-piece upper receiver and free floating
barrel, resulting in increased accuracy and
better zero retention with after-market
sighting and aiming systems than the
standard M4 carbine family of weapons,”
they explained.
The M5 also features a redesigned
lower receiver (or Trigger Mechanism
Housing) with ambidextrous controls
including the fire selector switch (safety,
semi-automatic and automatic modes);
magazine release catch; and charging
handle. Additionally, a six-position butt-
stock provides an enhanced ergonomic fit
for the individual soldier allowing greater
adaptation and comfort, in a variety of
shooting styles and positions: “The M
Enhanced Carbine has a low profile gas
block in a carbine length gas system
and a free float modular rail system,
maximising rail real estate, comfort,
weight and accuracy, while at the same
time, maintaining the same lethality
and accuracy expected from a Colt,” Mr.
Fehmel added. Available in 5.56mm
calibre, the rifle can be fitted with a
suppressor for special operations so as to
reduce muzzle flash, noise, vibration and
dust signatures; particularly associated
with urban operations. The rifle also
features a 360 degree rail adaptor system
for the integration of weapon accessories
including laser designators, tactical
torchlights, red dot and optical gunsights.
Moreover, the M5 Enhanced Carbine is
available in multiple barrel lengths, with
options including 261.6mm (10.3 inches/
in), 292.1mm (11.5in) and 368.3mm (14.5-
inch) configurations providing maximum
effective ranges between 400 metres/m
(1312.3 feet/ft) and 600m (1968.5ft), Colt
officials described. Dependent upon
barrel selection, the carbine weighs
no more than eight pounds/lb (3.
kilograms/kg) and measures a maximum
of 895.3mm (35.2in) when fully extended.
The agreement between Colt and
NIOA coincides with developments
across the Australian DOD which on 9th
December 2016, initiated a prototype
Combat Shooting Skills Training
course designed to further develop the
marksmanship and field craft of soldiers
across the force. Forming part of the
army’s Modernisation and Strategic
Planning initiative, the course is the first
of its kind with soldiers from the army’s
Royal Australian Regiment receiving
training from the Australian Special Air
Service Regiment at the Majura Training
Area near Canberra. The training course
is designed to: “fuse innovative teaching
techniques with the latest shooting
range technologies to provide the
regular infantry soldiers with a near-
real immersive combat environment to
US DOD
The M4 Carbine, the mainstay of the US
Army, continues to be used by special
forces across the Asia-Pacific with
Colt Manufacturing now holding an
agreement with NIOA to proliferate its
technology further across the region.