[Ryan Robertson]
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE NAME BERETTA? FOR ME, MY MIND INSTANTLY GOES TO MAX PAYNE DIVING THROUGH THE AIR, DODGING BULLETS AND DEALING HARSHLY WITH HIS CITY’S CRIMINAL UNDERGROUND.
MOST PEOPLE THOUGH, WHEN HEARING THE NAME BERETTA, PROBABLY THINK OF THE M-9 WHETHER THEY’RE A FIREARMS ENTHUSIAST OR NOT…
<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>AND FOR GOOD REASON; IT WAS THE PRIMARY SIDEARM FOR THE U.S. MILITARY FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.
WHILE THE M9 HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED, BERETTA IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE BUSINESS. THIS TIME WITH AN EYE ON THE UK, AND THAT’S WHY THEY ARE THE FOCUS OF OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.
TO SAY IT WAS BIG NEWS WHEN THE U.S. ARMY DECIDED TO MOVE ON FROM THE M-4 TO THE SIG SAUER MADE M-7 FOR ITS CLOSE CONTACT TROOPS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. THE M-4 IS AN ICONIC PIECE OF AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY.
IT’S THE SAME POSITION THE BRITISH MILITARY NOW FINDS ITSELF WITH WANTING TO REPLACE THE L-8-5-A-3, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE S-A-80. ENTER PROJECT GRAYBURN. THE BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE’S EFFORT TO FIND A REPLACEMENT BY 2030.
ONE OF THE COMPANIES IN THE RUNNING FOR THE JOB IS BERETTA DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES, ALSO KNOWN AS B-D-T U-K.
[Jack Cadman, Military Channel Manager, BDT UK]
“=”font-weight: 400;”>We are the military and law enforcement arm of Beretta Holding Companies. So everything that applies to a tactical setting, whether that be law enforcement or military. BDT UK is representative of that in the United Kingdom, dealing with law enforcement agencies and UK Ministry of Defense”
[Ryan Robertson]
JACK CADMAN IS THE MILITARY CHANNEL MANAGER FOR B-D-T UK, AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE HELPING LEAD THE CHARGE TO MAKE B-D-T’s NEW ASSAULT RIFLE PROJECT, OR THE SAKO M-23, THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE S-A-80. TO DO THAT HE TELLS US B-D-T IS LEANING ON ITS HISTORY WITH THE U.S. MILITARY AND THE M-9.
[Jack Cadman, Military Channel Manager, BDT UK]
“So everything that took place with the US military. So delivering that pistol from a localized production facility is something that we’re taking forward, adapting to the UK requirements, and making sure that we put that forward as part of our bid. ”</span>
[Ryan Robertson]
<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>BOILED DOWN, THAT MEANS PUTTING THE PRODUCTION OF BRITISH WEAPONRY INTO THE HANDS OF BRITISH WORKERS, JUST LIKE BERETTA DID YEARS AGO WITH THE M9 IN THE U.S..
[Jack Cadman, Military Channel Manager, BDT UK]
“ So we’re absolutely using all of the information and lessons learned from how to do that with the M9 contract and putting it into
the UK. From that perspective, and we’ve worked with Beretta USA already looking at how we would implement it from day zero of being awarded the contract through to delivery and beyond the delivery of the weapon system.”
[Ryan Robertson]
<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>CADMAN, HIMSELF A BRITISH ARMY VETERAN, SAYS IT’S A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE
INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT.
<p>[Jack Cadman, Military Channel Manager, BDT UK]
“Because, you know, even though there’s been localized contracts in different platforms before, it’ll be the first time that the UK has an organic weapon of firearms production facility for a specific contract. There are, there are other gun manufacturers that have factories and production facilities in the UK, but in terms of doing it specifically for, you know, technological transfer and a long-term perspective, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
[Ryan Robertson]
AS FOR THE NEW ASSAULT RIFLE PROJECT, CADMAN TELLS US THEY EXPECT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RIFLE CHOSEN TO USE 5-5-6 CALIBER ROUNDS, BUT THERE ARE PLANS TO FUTURE-PROOF THE RIFLE SO IT CAN ACCOMMODATE 6.5 GRENDEL ROUNDS, SHOULD THE M-O-D DECIDE TO GO THAT WAY.
HE ALSO TELLS US B-D-T SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE DURABILITY OF THE SYSTEM.
[Jack Cadman, Military Channel Manager, BDT UK]
“The scientists and engineers have worked relentlessly over in Italy to make sure that kind of this weapon system is exactly what it needs to be. From that perspective, at least, you can definitely deal with the UK weather system, weather systems that often come in place, and wherever the UK military might need to go, but that’s something that we’ve absolutely tried to do. So yeah, we’re confident in the durability and endurance of this weapon system.”
[Ryan Robertson]
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
THOSE INVOLVED WITH PROJECT GRAYBURN EXPECT THE ASSESSMENT PHASE TO START SOMETIME NEXT YEAR, AND LIKELY GO TO CONTRACT IN LATE 2026, OR EARLY 2027, FOR APPROXIMATELY 150,000 WEAPONS.