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The UK Royal Marines Commando Force has received a major firepower boost, with the purchase of more than 1,500 SIG Sauer MCX rifles as part of the Royal Navy’s ongoing investment in the elite unit.
The acquisition, facilitated by Edgar Brothers, is part of a £6 million (AU$12.32 million) upgrade designed to enhance the Commandos’ specialist counter-terrorism capabilities.
The MCX rifles replace older models produced by Colt Canada and are tailored to meet the unique demands of modern special operations. They will complement the Knights Armament Stoner 1 (KS-1), the Commandos’ new general-use weapon, which was announced in September 2023.
Lieutenant Colonel Olly Osborne, from the Commando Force Program team, welcomed the latest addition, stating, “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.”
Designed for versatility, the SIG MCX is well-suited to the demanding operational environments in which the Commando Force operates. These elite troops are often deployed ahead of main allied forces, conducting missions in extreme conditions around the world. To ensure the new rifles meet the unit’s high standards, the Commandos have put them through rigorous force-on-force exercises and live-fire drills.
The MCX will be fielded by Commando units working alongside the Royal Navy’s Littoral Response Groups – highly capable amphibious taskforces that integrate ships, aircraft, vehicles and personnel to provide a potent global crisis response and special operations capability.
The rifle was procured under Project Hay, a program named in honour of Ronnie Hay, a distinguished Royal Marine and Fleet Air Arm fighter ace of the Second World War. Hay played a pivotal role in operations ranging from the Dunkirk evacuation and the Battle of Britain to the Mediterranean and Pacific theatres, embodying the daring spirit of the Commandos.
Project Hay enabled extensive field-testing of the MCX, with direct input from the Royal Marines shaping the final configuration. This user-driven approach was inspired by Project Hunter, which oversaw the procurement of the KS-1 rifle.
With the introduction of the SIG Sauer MCX, the Royal Marines continue to modernise their arsenal, ensuring they remain a cutting-edge force capable of meeting the challenges of 21st-century warfare.
