ADF Improves Training with Airsoft Conversion Kits for EF88 Rifles

The Australian Defence Forces (ADF) are improving realism in urban combat training with Airsoft conversion kits fitted to Enhanced F88 (EF88) 5.56×45 mm rifles.

Soldiers from the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) are now training with greater realism at their urban training facility at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, with use of pellets as opposed to dry and blank-fire training.

“When we shoot at another combatant, we try to induce the psychological and physiological stresses that combat places on a combatant,” Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant Phillip Brown said.  “As soon as you put a combatant against another combatant where there is a known pain response, if they conduct an incorrect drill or exhibit an incorrect combat behaviour, then the stress of that pain response is what we’re looking for, for that combatant to deliver the right combat behaviour.”

The EF88 Airsoft rifles are part of a Land 125 Phase 3C project.