04 ARMYCAPABILITY

MARS-L

One Year On
How has the rollout and integration of the new
MARS-L weapons system gone?
This process is still ongoing but the early phases of
introduction into service and conversion have been
fairly straight forward. What’s helped us is that units and
personnel have been very keen to get out there to start
training with the new rifle. What takes the real time is the
little things, the detail such as some of smaller ancillaries
and integration pieces like the vehicle weapon racks. As
an example these need to be designed from scratch and
have bespoke solutions for each type of vehicle. There is
also a lot of background work such as updating Training
Management Plans to reflect the new equipment and
terminology that most users won’t see. We continue to
get a lot of good feedback on the MARS-L from users
and with all rifles having now been issued it won’t be long
before all personnel in the three Services have had the
opportunity to shoot the new rifle.

What are people saying about the benefits of the
new weapon?
We get lots of good feedback and anecdotal reports
from units and individuals but we are also doing some
analysis of the recorded AWQ scores. This information
will eventually be used by Army to redesign the WQ.
That data has shown that there are fewer people not
qualifying on the shoot and more people passing it with
good (marksman level) scores. In fact the data so far
shows twice the number of people are now shooting to
marksman level.

What are some of challenges the project has
faced?
This phase of integration into service is where all the
little issues are ironed out so the kit can serve us well
throughout the remainder of its life of type. As the rifles
start to get some good use out there we learn more
about how they will be supported. A couple of examples
are; recently we worked out we needed better tools and
standards for testing trigger pulls. The MARS-L’s trigger

It is a year since the new MARS-L weapon
system was introduced into the New Zealand
Army. Army News spoke with weapon
replacement capability integration lead
MAJ John Lawrey about the new system.

is exceptional for an assault rifle but without the right
test equipment our armourers can’t check and service
them properly. The project has now bought all new digital
trigger pull gauges to replace ones that hadn’t really
changed since WW2. We also saw some early breakages
of firing pins so after an investigation by DLEM and the
manufacturer (LMT) we determined that although the
pins meet the US Army’s Military Standard we could do
better by introducing a new quality assurance (QA) test.
Hence we now have a stronger, superior firing pin that
we are putting into all rifles.
At the end of this process and once the capability
has reached Full Operational Release all of these small
niggles will have been straightened out and all of the
requirements met. The design of the rifle remains well
proven and the enhancements over the standard M4
or AR15 will mean this rifle will remain class leading
throughout its life.

Is it like learning to drive a new car when you roll
out a new weapon? I heard some people were
finding the scope difficult to use?
Certainly there will be things shooters need to get used
to but also our trainers who have only just learnt to use
the rifle themselves are working out how best to teach
it. As the collective experience with the MARS-L grows
these difficulties will decrease. The Army Depot has done
some good work developing detailed lessons plans from
the Book 4 (ed. NZP 99 Book 4), and these are available
online. In terms of the rifle’s ACOG scope we did have
a small number of shooters getting bruises and minor
cuts from what’s generally known as sniper’s eye. There
are contributing factors such as firing position and eye
relief but after some investigation the fix turned out to
be as simple as reversing the emergency iron sight on
the side of the ACOG as that was what was hitting the
shooter’s forehead. Problems like this that arise need to
be reported through RODUMs and if an injury is caused
then SRS. This helps us in being able to investigate and
test solutions.

2/4 get familiar with the MARS-L
By John Cosgrove

Personnel from 2/4 RNZIR had their first live fire
application shoot with the MARS-L weapon
system recently.
Eighty-three soldiers from throughout the
South Island converged on the West Melton rifle
range for two days of training to upskill during in
a familiarisation weekend in preparation for their
upcoming annual weapon qualification.
Soldiers were excited to be using the new
weapons system especially working with the
new ACOG sighting system over multiple ranges
up to 300M.
2/4 RNZIR S5 MAJ Ian Piercy said he was really
impressed with the accuracy of the new weapon
system particularly the new sighting system.
“The accessories of this system ensure maximum
comfort for the firer which I am convinced will
improve the accuracy of rounds on target.
“It was pleasing to see the soldiers quickly
adapting to the new system with some very
accurate shooting during the application phase of
the weekend,” MAJ Piercy said.
MAJ Piercy added that by completing the
application shoot it will make it easier for those
who attended to confidently qualify on the
upcoming AWQ.

 ARMYCAPABILITY 05

Was this a first for LMT to provide this many
weapons to one military?
LMT have had other military contracts including for
the UK but this has been their largest single order. To
support demand for their rifles both in the US domestic
market and international sales the LMT factory runs
24hrs/7 days. Our rifles were produced in batches of
about 2800 each, which helped us with our delivery
pipeline as we only had the ability to test, receipt and
issue so many weapons at one time. There has been a
lot of detailed co-ordination to get the right weapons and
spares out to the users — a new rifle is no good if you
don’t have spares, tools and trained armourers behind
you to back the capability up.

What is the life of type with this weapon?
Life of Type (LOT) is a figure given to all types of
equipment we introduce, and for MARS-L it’s 15 years.
It’s based on our ability to support the kit rather than how
long the actual kit lasts. During its LOT a weapon may
have new barrels and parts fitted, and if new parts kept
being fitted it would last well beyond the expected LOT.
LOTs are continually reviewed, and if in 10 years we can
support the rifles with no issues and the maintenance
procedures are still working then the LOTs can be
extended.

You represent the NZDF on a NATO sub-group for
weapons and sensors. How does our procurement
stack up against what other militaries are buying?
That NATO group is all about interoperability but is also
a great way for countries to share information about
procurements. As an example our sniper rifle project has
benefited from the recent experience of the Norwegian
Army who had a project running a few years ahead of
ours. As we have now just got our evaluations other
countries have been really interested in what we have
selected and have been after our reports.

The MARS-L has many attributes
the Steyr lacked, says another
of the Army’s top shooters,
Private Cam Nicol.

PTE Cam Nicol

In terms of assault rifles there are only a couple of
countries with full replacement projects going on.
Germany, for example, is replacing its G36 rifles after well
documented faults have led to a loss in confidence of
that design. EU politics, however, has meant the German
Government had to specify that the new rifle has to be
manufactured in Europe. Our projects have the freedom
of being able to look globally for the best solutions
available. The feedback I’ve had from members of the
NATO group is that our procedures and procurement
approach are pragmatic and flexible with a higher
emphasis on the user testing. Some other countries’
procurement procedures are more prescriptive and
dictated. In terms of the actual rifle itself it’s obvious there
are a number of countries who still run rifles that aren’t
fully ambidextrous (forcing all to shoot right handed) and
that still rely on iron sight for most of their troops.
We also continue to do more testing and work to
ensure we are as interoperable as we can be with our
ABCANZ and NATO partners. For example, recently
DMMG has sourced samples of all of the 5.56mm
ammunition types in-service with ABCANZ and we will
test them through MARS-L so we can measure the
exact zero shift and produce shooting tables that can
be used if deployed on exercise or operations with a
partner’s ammunition.

requirements and Concept for Employments documents
for each of these capabilities and making sure upgrades
or future replacements are appropriately budgeted for.
This will ensure the New Zealand soldier is equipped with
the right tools for the job.

LCPL Caleb Amner

Is there anything else we should know about what
the future holds for ISWRUP projects?
ISWRUP delivers the last two capabilities (sniper
and anti-materiel rifles) this year, and after that the
programme will close. However the ongoing work to
continually review our small arms capabilities and
upgrade them where necessary will be handled by the
relatively new Soldier Modernisation Office (SMO).
A branch of SMO will be responsible for the lethality
part of the soldier capability. They, together with
Capability Branch’s Land Capability Working Group,
will be responsible for continually updating the user

The main improvement for the left-handed soldier is
the ambidextrous controls on the weapon, but there
are more advantages, he says.
“It has a telescopic stock so the correct length of
pull can be acquired no matter the size of the user and
if you are wearing body armour or not.
“The 4x ACOG sight allowed me to release the shot
with confidence that my point of aim was correct,
especially at the longer ranges 500-600m.”
With the MK262 77grain ammunition he says there
is a huge improvement in accuracy over the Steyr.
“The modularity of the rail system means you can
quickly alter the setup of the rifle for both the firer
and the mission, for example PEQ15 lasers and fore
grips etc.”
There are challenges with the MARS-L too, he says.
“The safety cannot be engaged when the weapon
is not cocked, and as a result of this the “load-action’’
drill has been altered so you cock the action and apply
the safety before installing the magazine. For myself
and others we had to really concentrate on the drill
to insure we then cocked the weapon a second time
after the magazine was installed to chamber a round.”
The firer needs to be aware of his or her quick
detachable scope mounts and accessories to ensure
they are tight. Failure to do so will result in loss of
zero or that part may fall off. The shooter must be
constantly aware the drills have changed,
PTE Nicol says the MARS-L has different
ergonomics to the Steyr. “So what may have been
your preferred grip or stance with the Steyr may
now need to be altered or changed. That is the
individual’s job to work out what works, no set style is
right for everyone!”
“In my opinion the MARS-L is a better weapon in
almost every way, but don’t expect to go out and
be a better shot without practice and real time
application on the range. With enough trigger time and
ammunition down range it is a great tool to make every
Kiwi serviceman/woman more effective than ever.”

So what do soldiers in
the front line think of
their new weapon?
The MARS-L is more reliable at longer ranges as
the ACOG sight is calibrated for that particular
ammo nature, says LCPL Caleb Amner, a Light
Armoured Vehicle Commander from Queen
Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles, and a top shooter from
last year’s ASSAM competition.
The heavier grain ammo is less affected by
environmental factors at longer ranges, he
says. “Being an ambidextrous weapon makes
carrying out weapon I.A’s more efficient. Another
comparison with the Steyr is that the MARS-L is
more front heavy which helps with a little recoil
control but becomes a strain in some positions, like
standing unsupported.”
The challenges with the new weapon, he says,
is like with anything new. “It’s just getting a decent
amount of exposure with it so that the drills become
second nature and you can focus more on accurate
shooting and applying marksmanship principles.”
Another challenge with the MARS-L soldiers have
found is that what worked with the Steyr may not
be suitable for the MARS-L. “As firers we have to
change and adapt to the new style of shooting that
the MARS-L provides.”
LCPL Amner says when he helped coach the
2018 ASSAM team he tried to instil that just
because the MARS-L is a new weapon with a new 4
power scope it doesn’t automatically make a soldier
a better shot.
“Taking their time to get the correct eye relief
and the correct extension of the stock is key. Firers
just need to find what works for them because
everyone is different. What works for me may not
work for someone else. But once they find out what
works for them then they can focus on other things
like different grips and positions.
“Firers need to keep in mind that being confident
with the MARS-L will help a lot with their shooting.
Some firers get on the mound and aren’t confident
and end up being controlled by the weapon instead
of controlling it. The magazine also is longer when
fitted to the MARS-L than it is on the Steyr causing
a seesaw like movement when firing in the prone
position making it more difficult to control recoil.”