The Canadian Armed Forces has announced that it will replace its C7 rifles and C8 carbines, which have been in service for thirty-five years.
The Canadian Defence Investment Agency (DIA) awarded a CAD 273 million contract to Colt Canada to supply the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR) over the next five years starting in 2026.
The weapons will be supplied in two versions: 16,195 in the Full Spectrum (FS) variant and 49,207 in the General Service (GS) variant. The FS is designed for front-line combat use by regular infantry units and is expected to include optics and a suppressor. The GS will equip all other soldiers with roles that are not primarily combat-related. Both rifles feature a monolithic upper receiver, ambidextrous controls, MLOK accessory forearms, and will be chambered for 5.56 x 45 mm. The GS is projected to have a 14.5-inch barrel and a weight of 3.4 kilograms. A CMAR-style design, known as the C8A4, was showcased at the CANSEC 2024 exhibition and underwent field evaluations that year.
The Canadian Modular Assault Rifle concept was initially designed to re-equip combat troops but was expanded to fill the need for a new service rifle to replace the C7A2 and C8 carbines in service. The design appears to combine features from Colt Canada’s Modular Rail Rifle (MRR) and Colt’s M5. Available information states that the rifle weighs 6.2lbs/2.8kg unloaded, has an 11.6in/295mm free floated cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel, the M5 lower’s ambidextrous controls, and an M-LOK handguard (which differs from that of the Colt M5). The entire weapon is FDE Cerakoted. Early images by Colt Canada and the weapon show that the C8A4 may well represent the FS carbine. It features a Magpul CTR stock, a MOE pistol grip, and is equipped with a HUXWRX Flow 556 suppressor and a SAI Optics 6 1-6x24mm.
The rifles are being ordered in two stages, with the first 30,000 general service (GS) rifles over three years costing $307 million. The second stage will include the purchase of an additional 19,207 GS variants plus 16,195 full spectrum rifles. The timeline or cost for the second stage has not been released but will be an option within the current contract. Production will take place at the Colt Canada factory in Kitchener, Ontario. Given the many years between the initial deployment of the CMAR-GS and the planned rollout of the CMAR-FS, it is possible that the Canadian Forces may use feedback from the first deployment to refine the final FS configuration.
In any case, replacing the current C7 and C8 rifles is a positive investment aligned with Canada’s focus on defence and capability modernisation programs.
by Stephen W. Miller
