Below you will find details of the different LWRC International (LWRC or LWRCI used as short) rifles used by the Swedish Military and Police, as well as accessories and optics.

Behind this article lies literally months of scouting from several people and sources and we have done our best to get the information as accurate as possible. Thanks to everyone involved.

The Swedish National Task Force (NI, Nationella Insatsstyrkan) are using LWRCI IC-A5, in fact it seems they are using a slightly modified IC-A5 SBR in 12.7″. The same or a similar setup is used by SOG (SOG, Särskilda Operationsgruppen, Military SF). Most of this was confirmed already in this TFB article, with addition that it’s more likely the IC-A5 SBR model specifically with some modifications like the Law Tactical folding adapter.

Since then Sweden and Stockholm City has been hit by a terrorist attack at Drottningatan, and the Swedish National Task force (NI) were seen showing their IC-A5 SBR:s live. TFB source here.

On to the news: The “Förstärkt Regional Insatsstyrka” (Reinforced Regional Task Force), more known as Piketen, is a unit similar to the SWAT Police units in the USA.

TFB claimed that the Gothenburg SWAT unit (Göteborg City) also were getting LWRCI rifles, and this is now confirmed true.

TFB are happy to be first to report this news together with some interesting and unique photos.

 

Historically, the Gothenburg SWAT Team has been using the H&K 53, while most other Piketen units were using the H&K G36. So Gothenburg are first in line with the LWRCI upgrade, and the other regional SWAT Teams are supposed to follow.

The LWRCI rifle the Swedish SWAT Teams are getting is the IC-Enhanced. (IC-E) Please check this link for the producer’s data and information.

These two photos are unique for TFB. Notice that the NI rifles are Patriot Brown and the SWAT rifles (pictured) are Black Anodized. Black, just like the very rare (and somewhat failed) Ak5 D Police which is no longer in use.

Below: First picture of the LWRCI IC-Enhanced for the Swedish SWAT teams. This is a 14.7″ rifle, with a fluted barrel. Magpul PMAG magazine with window, loaded. Caliber 5,56 NATO. Aimpoint Micro red dot.

Notice that the Flash hider is LWRCI’s own design. I could be wrong, but I presume that no suppressor will fit above that design, which means that the Piketen rifles won’t be using suppressors.

Below: IC-Enhanced Upper as a reference. I presume this is the 16.1″ barrel, as you can see the fluted barrel protruding beyond the gas block. Source here.

 

The lower is semi-auto only.

Below: Enhanced picture. Here you can see that the barrel is fluted, look under the hand guard and you can see the “screw pattern”. Looks like a LWRCI 2-Hole Rail Section with QD Sling Mount. LWRCI Front and Rear Skirmish Sight or possibly Magpul BUIS as backup. Looks like an ERGO-pistol grip, not Magpul.

You can also see the IC piston (above) and below is the schematics for it. I love the design of the removable top cover to access the piston. Very clever – as long as it mounts back to zero, but I’m sure this has been tested.

Below: The top text reads: “IC-E 5,56 mm” and “TILLHÖR POLISEN” (Translated from Swedish, “belongs to the Police”). IC-E, reads Individual Carbine – Enhanced.

You can also see the “SE2017” marking on the upper, the serial is pixelated. The “SE2017” marking was an idea from the EU to be able to identify the origin and year of a Firearm, and to be able to trace it when sold. This was compulsory for a short period of time, but the law is now abolished (at least in Sweden). I think the reasons might have been that the markings aren’t very helpful, illegal firearms won’t have them anyway and it’s a nightmare to fill a firearm with markings if it’s a very expensive collectors item. To my knowledge, this is one of the few instances were a firearm related law has been relieved.

Below: On the right side of the rifle, we can see “SE 2017” again and “TILLHÖR POLISEN” (Belongs to the Police).

Below: The sight is an Aimpoint T2 2 MOA Red Dot, and the mount looks like a SM-2001 Micro Mount.

Notice the M6IC markings on the lower, as opposed to the M6 lowers which have M6 only embossed. I have to say that the LWRCI model names are confusing, and their webpage and brochures could be improved.

Below: LWRC IC-E in parts, disassembled.

 

Enough of static pictures of the IC-E. The daily magazine Göteborgs-Posten published these pictures but apparently had no idea that this was most likely the first time the new firearms were shown in public.

To give you a better understanding, these pictures were taken in Gothenburg the day after the terror attack in Stockholm. Things were a bit tense.

Below you can see pictures from Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Social Democrats Congress of 2017 (April 8-12 2017)

Below: Minister of Interior (Sweden), Mr. Anders Ygeman, stepping into a car. Note the LWRCI to the right. Pictures by Oliver Lindqvist GP.se

This means one of my previous guesses was wrong. As the H&K MP5s were brand new (for the Swedish Police) when the Pope visited Stockholm (1989) I expected the new LWRCIs to be seen for the first time when the (another) Pope visited Malmoe recently. Instead we see the new firearms live for the first time with the Swedish Minister of Interior.

Below: Zooming in on an LWRC IC-E.

Change of light levels to enhance the rifle. The magazine looks like it’s made out of metal.

Below: Aimpoint Micro (T2 most likely) in a Spuhr mount and Aimpoint 6MAG-1.

The Aimpoint 6XMag-1 was specifically designed for use with Aimpoint® Micro T-2 and Aimpoint® Micro H-2 red dot sights. This module gives professional users enhanced capability for long-range aiming and observation. A variable (-3 to +3) dioptric setting allows the magnifier to be adapted to the individual operator’s eye.

The 6XMag-1 is encased in a shock absorbing protective rubber cover that also creates an ideal ergonomic grip. Internal optical adjustments make aligning the magnifier and sight quick and easy.

Reference picture:

The rail panels are from LWRCI. I think they are FDE on the live pictures.

The long-awaited LWRCI Rail Panels install directly onto any LWRC Modular Rail. The kit includes three textured 4-hole rail panels and one 4-hole hand stop. These rail panels are made to be used as either 4-hole or 2-hole panels; simply score the rail panel along the groove in the middle of the part and the panel will simply snap in half along the line.

Below: Turned the picture 90 degrees CCW to display the LWRCI and accessories better.

 

The flashlight is a Streamlight, a Strobe (S) or more likely a High Lumen (HL). Source here.

The magazine pouch looks like a Snigel Design, the Short speed magazine pouch -12. They make some really nice gear and you should check them out here. It could be HSG Tacos also.

   

Some more pictures of the IC-E carbine. This looks like the Gothenburg central train station, with an X2000 train behind the officers.

You can see the insignia on his left shoulder, member of the “Piketen”.

It looks like another Streamlight and the hand stop is probably an Odin Works B1 Handstop.

The Swedish Police have historically been using a lot of Surefire flash lights, so the Streamlights are a bit of a surprise. Good for Streamlight.

You can also note the word “Individual” reoccurring in a lot of model names, and you can see that these rifles are to some extent individually and personally configured.

Below: The video below will be very basic for a lot of TFB’s regular readers, but I know for sure that this page will be read and shared by people with less technical experience of the AR system and it’s a beautiful video showing the operating mechanism of the LWRCI. You should watch it.

The LWRCI Military and LE catalogue can be downloaded here.

More related TFB articles here, here and here. Aftonbladet tabloid source here. (Swedish)

Be sure that the other Swedish SWAT units will follow with similar firearm(s) and gear.

Price: The price mentioned for these rifles are in the region of 7 000 to 8 000 USD each. Please note that this is including all extras, fully configured, and that the rifle itself likely stands for about half of the value.

To summarize:

H&K 53s and H&K G36s are being phased out. The SWAT Team in Gothenburg was recently confirmed with LWRCI IC-Enhanced semi-automatic carbines in 5,56 NATO. Color: black. The rifles were equipped with “Made in Sweden” accessories from Aimpoint, Spuhr and Snigel Design (textiles) and Streamlights.

The Swedish National Task Force (NI, Nationella Insatsstyrkan) seem to be using a modified LWRCI IC-A5 SBR, fully automatic, 12.7″ barrel with Surefire muzzle brake and Surefire suppressor. Color: Patriot Brown.