Steyr is celebrating their 150th anniversary, having first established 1864 in Austria. They have also recently moved into a new facility. Thirdly, they are offering a new AUG A3 receiver design, currently titled the “M1”.

This version is already sold internationally, in select-fire, as the Steyr AUG A3 SF (top photo).

Working with VLTOR, Steyr Arms is offering a fixed-mount optic receiver. Although it looks like a single machined part, the optic mounts with a fixed pin, which can be seen inserted in the front of the mount. The new version will be offered in tan and “mud” as well as the standard black and olive drab stocks. There is no current MSRP.

This magnified image shows the seam between optic and receiver.

It was no effort to hit a gong on the steel plate at 110 yards. However, stupidly, I did not ask whom is manufacturing the optic for them. I plan to gather this info tomorrow. The handguard rail and grip are both aftermarket and it is expected to be offered with the traditional folding grip.

Using the AR15/STANAG magazines below, for comparison, is the NATO version of the AUG A3 with the integral elongated rail.