Army has two variants in development for the next modular assault rifle
When the federal government rolled out its June 2017 defence policy paper, it was packaged as “a long-term vision” for how Canada’s military could respond to a rapidly changing world. It was an ambitious vision built around a promise to spend billions more on defence over the ensuing two decades.
Among other things, it stated that “the Department of National Defence remains committed to the significant and strategic long-term investments that will ensure the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) continues to function as an agile, and combat-ready force, capable of making tangible contributions and delivering on its commitments at home and around the world.”
Most NATO countries have “moved on” and Canada is “overdue to bring its capabilities up to speed,” he said. Gendron warned that “our operators who use their assault rifles for dismounted offensive operations or personal protection now risk being overmatched by adversaries using readily available technologies.”
The Army’s solution is the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR), which could be adopted to various tactical scenarios by changing components procured through Colt’s subcontractors or other certified manufacturers. The expectation is a weapon it says will “enhance the awareness, lethality and protection of deployed CAF members.”
The CMAR project was presented to an Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisitions in July 2020. While it acknowledged the Army’s specific needs for its dismounted operators, the panel also suggested that the entire CAF assault rifle fleet requirements be addressed. This led the Army to rethink how it could achieve this within a reasonable funding envelope and without jeopardizing the operational effectiveness of the Army.
