Written question asked by Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative) on Friday, 28 August 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 September 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Rifles

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions has he had with industry on taking advantage of the technological advancements made by the United States HICAR programme in order to fulfil the scope of Project GRAYBURN.

Answer: The UK and United States maintain close cooperation on small arms research, development and experimentation, including in support of the British Army's Project GRAYBURN, which will replace the L85 rifle. Through established engagement with US partners, and extensive engagement with industry during the Concept Phase, the Army considers relevant developments in small arms technology, including ammunition options to optimise current and future capability such as the 5.56x45mm round.

Secondary information