In what appears to be LWRC cornering the Swedish special operations and SWAT issue rifle market, we have yet more evidence of LWRC’s piston operated IC-A5 rifles in usage by the Särskilda operationsgruppen (SOG, Military SOF), the Förstärkt Regional Insatsstyrka (Reinforced Regional Task Force), and though unconfirmed the Nationella insatsstyrkan (National Task Force). Earlier on TFB, we covered the use of LWRC rifles by SOG, a component of the military, in addition to H&K MP7s.

When the recent attacks against civilians in Stockholm, the Reinforced Regional Task Force responded promptly and abruptly to cordon off the area and establish security. Seen amongst these LEOs were what appear to be LWRC IC-A5s chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO in addition to what appears to be a designated marksman rifle with an unidentified scope and what looks like a reflex sight mounted on it for close quarters shooting. The IC-A5s had Aimpoint optics mounted for primary scopes and magnifiers. All rifles had L3 Technologies ATPIAL AN/PEQ-15 LAMs mounted at the 12 o’clock position on their rifles with what appears to be a Surefire SR07 Remote Dual Pressure Switch clipped to the rail as well. Suppressors at first glance could be a Surefire variant, but from a distance, it is quite hard to tell. Rifle furniture, iron sights, magazines, and forward grips are all Magpul products. At this point it is hard to tell whether or not the barrels have that classic LWRC spiral flute, but I would assume they do as most LWRC rifles come like that.

LWRC is usually seen as a high-end AR manufacturer within the U.S. civilian market, and I don’t expect their prices to have dropped for the overseas market too much for a Mil/LE pricing. We knew about the SOG use of the LWRC rifles previously but this is the first time the public has learned of the LE usage of the weapons. What prompted the new operational requirement for the LWRC is unknown, but it might have had to do with the general replacement of the G36 across Europe after H&Ks recent troubles with the German government. In addition, it appears that many of the Swedish LE units were still primarily using submachine guns until recent years and so this adoption of the LWRC is a part of a rethinking of tactics across Europe as the bad guys wear more body armor, bring more effective small arms and use more widespread methods of mass murder.

Much thanks to Abraxas Spa for the tip off!