Colt Canada gets $32.1M contract for machine gun update
Staff
General Defense Canadian Armed ForcesColt Canada will add 13 new jobs and the contract will help contribute to maintaining approximately 100 jobs at the company.
The Canadian Armed Forces are getting the latest upgraded weapons.
Kitchener-based Colt Canada has been awarded a $32 million defence contract with the Government of Canada for 1148 new C6A1 FLEX General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG).
Photo courtesy of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
“The Government of Canada is committed to providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the modern equipment they need to successfully carry out operations at home and abroad,” said Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan. “This purchase will replace equipment that was procured over 30 years ago and will ensure that the CAF are properly equipped and continue to be ready for operations.”
The first new C6 machine guns are expected to be delivered in September 2018 with final deliveries anticipated for June 2019.
The C6 is a fully-automatic, air-cooled, gas- and spring-operated machine gun that is belt-fed from the left. The ammunition is 7.62 X 51MM NATO linked.
The new C6A1 FLEX is designed to be carried by soldiers or attached to vehicles such as the new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle. The new machine gun will feature a durable polymer butt stock instead of the current wooden style. Additionally, soldiers will be able to attach pointing devices and optical sighting systems to the new weapon to help increase their operational effectiveness.
The procurement includes related equipment such as a cleaning and repair kit, spare parts, and sling to carry the weapon.
The Canadian Armed Forces received its current C6 machine guns over 30 years ago. With decades of use, some have been removed from service due to wear and tear. Now, these C6 guns are reaching the end of their service life. This purchase will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with a modern and reliable weapon to support training and operations.
The contract with Colt Canada will result in approximately 13 new jobs and contribute to maintaining approximately 100 jobs at the company.
This investment will improve the Canadian Army’s operational capability, and will help provide an advantage over potential adversaries.
