THE HUNT BEGINS!

VEGAFORCECOMPANY (VFC) HAVE MOST CERTAINLY BEEN MAKING THE ABSOLUTE MOST OF THEIR LICENCING AGREEMENTS OF LATE, AND HAVE HAD A REGULAR PROGRAM OF NEW PRODUCT RELEASES THIS YEAR… WITH MORE YET TO COME! LAST MONTH THOUGH SAW A RELEASE THAT IS GOING TO DELIGHT THOSE WITH BRITISH FORCES LOADOUTS EVERYWHERE IN THE FORM OF THE KAC-LICENCED L403A1 GBBR! WITH ANNY ATTENDING THE LAUNCH PARTY, AND BILL AND STEWBACCA HAVING ALREADY STARTED TESTING THE RIFLE ITSELF WE CAN NOW SHARE OUR INITIAL THOUGHTS!

Ido love a VFC GBBR, and I’m also a huge fan of UK Service Weapon replicas, so when I first heard about their gas L403A1 I was… EXCITED! To give a little background, there are currently three programs in place to update service weapons for the British Army, and whilst Project Grayburn to replace the 5.56×45 mm L85A3 IW, and Project Cairns to replace the 7.62×51 mm L7A2 GPMG in the light role are still ongoing, Project Hunter has already come to fruition. In the words of www.army.mod.uk at the time they stated

“British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.”

In September 2023 the British Army began adopting the L403A1 rifle as part of Project Hunter, initially for its Special Operations Brigade, the Ranger Regiment, and the Royal Marines followed by a rollout to other specialist units. The rifle, a Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) KS1, was designated the L403A1 and became the first building block of the Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system.

Taken from the same MOD announcement, we were told:

“The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system - known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project Hunter – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system. The

AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user can engage threats from greater distances whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing. Supplementing the current in-service L85A3, the AIW system has been secured under a £90 million contract with Macclesfield-based company Edgar Brothers.”

Delivered then by Edgar Brothers, the L40A1 has now been seen regularly in the hands of British soldiers and “other personnel”, and is an exciting development given that UK Land Forces haven’t had a new service weapon since the introduction of the SA80 way back in the mid1980s! The new L403A1 (known commercially as the Knights Armament Company (KAC) KS-1) is a 5.56mm NATO AR-15 style rifle developed specifically for Project Hunter; the rifle features a high-performance design including an M-LOK handguard, an L900A1 Optics Suite, and an integrated KAC suppressor.

In more detail the rifle is chambered for the current issue 5.56×45mm NATO, although this calibre is under debate for further development. As issued it includes ambidextrous controls, a heavy, dimpled barrel, a KAC URX6 handguard with M-LOK, a Magpul CTR buttstock, and comes fitted with the L900A1 Optics Suite, which includes a Vortex 1–10x low power variable

PROJECT GRAYBURN TO REPLACE THE 5.56×45 MM L85A3 IW, AND PROJECT CAIRNS TO REPLACE THE 7.62×51 MM L7A2 GPMG IN THE LIGHT ROLE ARE STILL ONGOING, PROJECT HUNTER HAS ALREADY COME TO FRUITION.” optic and an Aimpoint ACRO P-2 red dot sight, along with an integrated KAC QDC/MCQ-PRT suppressor; this fulfils the initial Project Hunter brief for a platform that “can engage threats from greater distances whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing”… it’s a VERY neat package indeed!

And whilst I’m very aware that there have been some absolutely superb custom replications of the KS-1/L403A1 many of us interested in “ally Brit kit” have been waiting patiently for someone to bring us a commercially produced “off the shelf” version of this new service rifle in airsoft form, and I was overjoyed when VegaForceCompany (VFC) announced that they would be the ones to do so… especially as I already run a posse of VFC gas ARs and found that the magazines would all be compatible with the new GBBR!

I’m sure it’s very obvious that both Stewbacca and I have a very close relationship with VFC, so in actual fact we were given the nod by our “inside man” at VFC in Taiwan that the new GBBR would imminently be launched, and although sadly Stewbacca was otherwise engaged, thankfully “Military Anny” was once again on hand to attend the launch party on AA’s behalf, and can share her experience with all of us… so over to Anny!

ARTHURIAN THEMING!

“The newly renovated VFC Pentagon Service Center (VPSC) hosted a party and new product launch on Friday, August 22nd at 1300. The

“IN SEPTEMBER 2023 THE BRITISH ARMY BEGAN ADOPTING THE L403A1 RIFLE AS PART OF PROJECT HUNTER, INITIALLY FOR ITS SPECIAL OPERATIONS BRIGADE, THE RANGER REGIMENT, AND THE ROYAL MARINES FOLLOWED BY A ROLLOUT TO OTHER SPECIALIST UNITS”

L403A1 GBB rifle and GLOCK G17 Gen5 MOS optics-ready as standard pistol were officially launched globally on August 29th 2025.”

The striking “Sword in the Stone” display design upon entering the venue featured not a sword in fact, but the British Army’s next generation service rifle, the L403A1, while a variety of Chinese and Western dishes were also served, along with VFC Instructor Shen’s specially blended hand-poured coffee!

In addition to the live product launch at 14:00 on August 22nd, a YouTube livestream was also broadcast. VFC brand ambassador, Sally Chou, wearing Athena Truth apparel, attended the event. First, at the 2025 IPSC World Shoot Action Air II World Shooting Championships in the Philippines, sponsored by VFC, competitors achieved excellent results using Umarex/ VFC G17 Gen5 air pistols, and Clarence Lai of CL Project Design presented a certificate of appreciation to the VFC’s top man Vega Kung. In his opening remarks VFC boss Vega Kung told us:

“This is our fourth new product launch. The first featured the AK74M, and now we’re showcasing the L403A1 and GLOCK G17 Gen5. Each launch is unique, just like VFC products, which are constantly improving. Quoting Confucius from the Analects, “The mistakes of a gentleman are like the eclipses of the sun and moon: when he makes a mistake, everyone sees it; when he corrects it, everyone admires him.”

As such, VFC products will continue to improve; the VFC team has meticulously planned this new remarked, “It’s a bit ugly. He’s good at hitting teammates in the head.”

Sally Chou asked, “I’ve picked up so many guns, aren’t you going to make VFC?”

Ryan replied, “Of course not. Today, we should focus on the new KAC KS-1 L403A1.”

Sally Chou then offered to give him a GLOCK G17 Gen5, unveiling the new product announcement.

Before we begin introducing the new product, let’s invite QRF editor KC to share his part of the story:

“Hailing from Britain, the empire on which the sun never sets, Project Hunter brings a new weapon system for the British Army. The name of the project has nothing to do with hunters, but rather commemorates a Marine corporal during World War II who was awarded the Victoria Cross. This was a project to replace the L85 and L119

“The all-new EVO AR GBB Hop-Up system features a TDC (Top Dead Centre) vertical push-down design, rear screw adjustment, a steel Hop-Up chamber and components, a new disassembly system, barrel replacement without removing the outer barrel or handguard, adjustable click count, and an EVO Hop-Up quick-adjustment tool (sold separately, to be released soon- Bill).

“The V3 lower frame and fire control unit features a new V3 steel gas valve and firing pin assembly, all-steel fire control components, and a modified steel hammer without a cut gas plate.

“There will also be a brand new VFC VMAG FDE Sand Colour Gas Magazine along with brand new FDE sand colour finish and parts, switchactivated blank-fire function, enlarged rear lever opening on the top cover, and optimized rear-lock stability.”

First Impressions

My thanks go to Anny for her coverage, and her reporting on what was seen and heard at the launch party in Taipei! Having watched the video and seen many, many pictures from Anny and other airsoft friends in Taiwan it was quite the affair, and although we’ll cover off the latest VFC GLOCK G17 Gen5 in due course, it was all about the L403A1 as far as I was concerned!

I have to say that I absolutely adored the set dressing with the rifle placed in the stone like Arthur’s Excalibur, and there were a lot of fun pictures of the guys present apparently straining to remove it… as much as a product launch like this is a serious affair, it was great to see some light-hearted airsoft fun at the very heart of it.

Now I’m certain the VFC “take” on the L403A1 will come under some very serious scrutiny, and

WITH

AT AAHQ

(yes, mine was shipped from Taiwan just ahead of the launch party and arrived a day or so after!) even at first glance appeared to be a faithful reproduction of the British Army’s new generation service rifle. With a stunning replication of the issued colour of the real rifle (including the new magazine!), and some beautifully realised KAC “trades” on both the receiver set and the rail, the VFC L403A1 immediately looked the part.

The alloy URX6 handguard has an authentic locking mechanism for a rock-solid fit, and inside the handguard is a brilliant replication of the dimpled heavy barrel which is made from a single piece of machined aluminium alloy. Controls are all ambidextrous, including the charging handle, bolt release, magazine release, and fire selector.

The only thing (probably down to licencing issues elsewhere) that wasn’t immediately “correct” was the stock which on “the real” is a

WEEKS AGO EVEN AT FIRST GLANCE APPEARED TO BE A FAITHFUL REPRODUCTION OF THE BRITISH ARMY’S NEW GENERATION SERVICE RIFLE… WITH A STUNNING REPLICATION OF THE ISSUED COLOUR OF THE REAL RIFLE (INCLUDING THE NEW MAGAZINE!)”

“ALTHOUGH BOTH STEWBACCA AND I WILL RETURN TO A FULL REVIEW OF THE VFC L403A1 GBBR AT A LATER DATE AFTER MORE INTENSIVE, LONGER-TERM TESTING, I’M CERTAIN THAT YOU ALL WANT TO KNOW ONE MORE THING… HOW IT SHOOTS… I’M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE L403A1 IS A BEAST!” and with .30g BBs the accuracy was stunning at that range. I did try heavier BBs up to .40g and the rifle seemed happy to hop all of them up to the 30m extent of the range, although Stewbacca tells me that from his initial testing going heavier weights start to become an issue... We’ll see how that goes as things bed in and report back!

As I expected though from my experience with other VFC GBBRs I knew I should be hitting 300mmx300mm targets at twice that distance, so I duly fitted the crystal-clear “optics suite” and paced out 70m in the woods… I then secured one of my 300mmx300mm paper targets rather than a steel and had at it prone… Suffice to say that the paper came home with thirty neat little 6mm holes drilled in it!

To be perfectly honest the new gas L403A1 is by no means your average “airsoft gun” and for this reason I don’t believe you’ll be seeing it regularly at Sunday Skirmishes in the UK, although I could be wrong, and I will be sure to give it a run out just to see if my old-man drills and accuracy are still as good as I think they are! In truth though, the L403A1 hasn’t been designed and made for skirmishing per se, it’s been designed and made for those that truly want a platform that looks and operates exactly like the real thing, but that shoots as well, if not better, than other GBBRs out

As I’ve said before about other VFC GBBRs... Yes, it’s been designed for the MilSim player for sure, but also for those that want realism to be able to test themselves to the limit in any game, with real-like operation and real-world magazine capacities. Basically, it’s been designed for people like me and my fellow “ally Brit kit” enthusiasts, and for those players the VFC L403A1 GBBR is going to be a “must have”!

My thanks again go to my good friend Ray at VFC (https://www.vegaforce.com) for facilitating delivery of the L403A1 to Stewbacca and I… Love you brother! AA