Sweden boosts defence with 15,000 M4A1 rifles from the US
The Swedish Armed Forces are urgently purchasing 15,000 automatic rifles from the USA to replace their outdated weapons from the 1980s and 1990s. The new rifles will be equipped for soldiers deploying on the NATO mission to Latvia at the beginning of 2025.
The Swedish Armed Forces have decided to acquire 15,000 Colt M4A1 rifles from the USA in response to the obsolescence of weapons used from the 1980s and 1990s. The new equipment will be assigned to soldiers deploying on the NATO mission to Latvia, thereby strengthening the eastern flank of the alliance.
American rifles will replace the Swedish-produced AK 5 rifles. The purchase is related to issues with the joint procurement by Sweden and Finland for weapons from the Finnish producer Sako. The tender decision was contested by the German company Heckler & Koch.
The introduction of American weaponry is expected to increase the reliability and operational efficiency of Swedish forces, especially given the growing needs resulting from NATO membership.
- By 2030, the size of the army is expected to double. The same goes for the weapons, of which we need a large quantity, - emphasized Jonas Lotsne, head of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FM), as quoted by SVT television.
M4A1 rifles
The M4A1 rifle, which uses 5.56x45 mm NATO ammunition, is often compared to its civilian version, known as the AR-15. It is characterized mainly by a 37 cm barrel, although 41 cm barrels are also popular. The M4A1, like its predecessor the M16, is based on a gas-operated system with direct impingement, which provides both benefits and certain drawbacks.
The M4A1 weighs about 2.7 kg without a magazine, achieved through the use of polymer materials, a direct impingement system, and an aluminum receiver. The weapon can be fitted with aluminum or polymer magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds.
The weapon is fed with aluminum or polymer magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds, and its theoretical rate of fire ranges from 700 to 950 rounds per minute. The effective range of this rifle reaches a maximum of 400 metres.
