Due to Canadian content laws, Colt Canada provides small arms to the Department of National Defence.

The Canadian military is currently working on an upgrade to their C8 carbines. Colt Canada showed off the latest version of their line of rifles, the C8 Modular Rail Ambidextrous Rifle in 5.56 NATO (Colt Canada also makes the MRR in 300 BLK).

It features a fully ambidextrous lower receiver with ambi bolt catch and release and well as fire selector switch.

This version with the 14.5” barrel is considered the general service variant and is intended for Combat Support and Combat Service Support personnel while close combatants will wield a carbine with an 11.6” barrel. As you can see, it is fitted with the Millbrook Strategic Sciences Multi Function Muzzle Device. The MFMD is timed and permanently affixed to the barrel and is currently already adopted by CANSOFCOM.

I had an opportunity to fire the 11.6 barrel version as well as a C20 sniper rifle in 7.62 NATO. Both were fitted with the MFMD. Although the MFMD is technically a two component system with a clip-on module which offers an additional 3db of attenuation, most don’t bother with the added weight. I was concerned that the carbine would feel unbalanced toward the muzzle but I didn’t notice it at all during firing. This is because most of the MFMD is mounted over the barrel and behind the muzzle. Additionally, although the device looks like a large block, most of it is hollow, filled with chases for the gas to run and escape.
This is a conceptual prototype of what a C8A4 might well look like. However, don’t surprised if the enabled change. For instance, DND still hasn’t decided on which suppressor and variable power optic they are going to field.
Departments, agencies, and military organizations in Canada can access Colt Canada and CZ Group products via Rampart.