Photo Of The Day and we start out strong with the Knight’s Armament KS-1, United Kingdom’s newly selected Alternative Individual Weapons system, or the L403A1. This image is part of the U.K. Ministry Of Defense’s Best of Defence Imagery 2023, and we understand why it was selected.

Here is the full caption, containing a lot of details:

A soldier from the Ranger Regiment poses with the new Alternative Individual Weapons (AIW) system at Lulworth Training area.

The Hunter contract is worth £90M and will have provision to procure up to a maximum of 10,000 Alternative Individual Weapons (AIW) systems. An AIW system consists of:

• Rifle with Signature Reduction System (SRS),
• Magnified optic sight and Mini Red Dot (MRD) sight,
• Training solution – Safe Blank Firing System & Marker Round Training System.
• New rifle provides UK troops with an improved lethal capability on the battlefield.
• Rifle more discreet through sight and hearing signature reduction.
• Up to 10,000 weapons could be procured over the next 10 years.

British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.

The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system – known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system.

The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user is able to engage threats from greater distances; whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing.

Supplementing the current in-service L85A3, the AIW system has been secured under a £90 million contract with Macclesfield-based company Edgar Brothers, supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by helping sustain approximately 50 jobs at the family-owned company.

For a deeper understanding and background, please read this: UK Selects New Assault Rifle

Photo: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023