Recently, the New Zealand Defence Force selected Lewis Machine & Tool Company to be the supplier of rifles to replace their aging Austrian-designed Steyr AUG bullpups. The exact model of rifle was not revealed in the press release regarding LMT’s selection, but those who speculated that it would be that company’s CQB16 model were soon proven correct. However, we have not seen the exact configuration of these rifles… Until the NZDF released the video below, that is:

The video shows the LMT rifle with its trademark monolithic upper receiver and “SOPMOD” buttstock, as well as an added 3 o’clock position bayonet lug mount, a combined flash hider/muzzle brake unit (EDIT: It’s a Surefire Warcomp, thanks to Charlie Taylor for the correction), and ambidextrous safety. The gun also mounts a PEQ-15 laser designator, LMT back up iron sights, Trijicon TA33 TA31 (thanks to Squirreltakular for the correction) ACOG optic with piggybacked RMR red dot sight, and an LMT M203-2003 short barreled 40mm under barrel grenade launcher.

The LMT CQB16 was adopted as part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s recent small arms modernization effort, which also included the adoption of the LMT MWS with a 20″ barrel as a designated marksman’s weapon, the replacement of 5.56mm Minimi light machine guns with their 7.62mm caliber stablemates, and the adoption of the Glock 17 handgun to replace the SIG P226. With this new suite of weapons at their disposal, New Zealand troops are very well armed indeed.