The Australian Department of Defence has signed a AUD 100 million contract with Thales to produce rifles, grenade launchers, spare parts and various ancillaries at Thales’s facility in Lithgow, regional NSW.

The F90 is a light, versatile weapon that meets the highest standards of performance and reliability, and has been well-received by soldiers in various trials.

In Australian Defence Force (ADF) service, the rifle will be known as the Enhanced F88 (EF88), marking a significant enhancement of the original Austeyr F88.

Two versions will be delivered – a standard rifle with a 20” barrel, plus a carbine with a 16” barrel. Deliveries to the ADF will begin in the next few weeks and phased over six years.

Thales is currently exploring export opportunities for the F90 in various markets around the world, while also developing further enhancements for the rifle, which is fitted for but not with electronic architecture including centralised power as a key future-proofing measure.