Royal Marines from the UK Commando Force have been issued a new rifle for specialist operations, including counter-terrorism.
More than 1,500 Sig Sauer MCX rifles have been purchased by the Navy, enabled by Edgar Brothers, as part of continued investment in the Commando Force.
The rifle is well-suited for the specialist counter-UK terrorism roles of the Commando Force, replacing rifles produced by Colt Canada as part of £6m Navy investment.
It is designed to complement the Commandos’ new general use weapon, the Knights Armament Stoner 1 (KS-1), that was announced in September 2023.
The addition of the MCX is another milestone in the UK Commando Force transformation – giving the UK Commando Force the operational edge for Special Operations around the globe.
Lieutenant Colonel Olly Osborne, of the Commando Force Programme team, said: “These rifles reinforce the commitment of the Navy and Defence to our transformation, and the value the Commando Force provides to our national and international security.
“This is an excellent period of investment in the force and provides great confidence through exceptional task specific modern weaponry.”
The Sig MCX brings a level of versatility well-suited to the unique requirements of the Commando Force, which is tasked with operating in a wide range of extreme environments around the globe ahead of the main allied forces.
The Commandos have put the system through strenuous testing during force-on-force exercises and live firing drills – allowing the future users to train under realistic conditions.
The MCX will be used by Commando Forces operating with the Royal Navy’s Littoral Response Groups – which bring together amphibious ships, aircraft, vehicles and Commandos under one potent force designed to provide a global Crisis Response and Special Operations capability.
The rifle was procured under the auspices of Project Hay – named in tribute to Ronnie Hay, a legendary fighter pilot and Royal Marine of World War 2 who epitomised the daring of the Commandos during raids on Nazi-occupied territory.
As the only Royal Marines fighter ace, Hay flew combat sorties in the Fleet Air Arm, earning multiple decorations for his aerial victories and ground-attack missions.
His distinguished service included pivotal roles in the Dunkirk evacuation, the Battle of Britain, the Mediterranean campaign during Operation Torch, and the Far East, where he led one of the Fleet Air Arm’s largest operations and supported the assault on Okinawa.
Hay’s remarkable legacy inspired the cutting-edge capabilities delivered through Project Hay, as the Royal Marines continue to redefine their role as an advanced raiding force.
Under the project, Commandos were able to thoroughly field-test systems and provide feedback on their performance. This was instrumental in shaping the final configurations of the fielded MCX. This user feedback was inspired by Project Hunter – which led the procurement of the KS-1 rifle.
This is a press release from the Royal Navy.
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