The next evolution of the C7/C8 family makes its first public appearance outside North America, at DVD 2026
Millbrook, UK – 16 September 2026. Colt Canada, the Canadian small-arms manufacturer within the Colt CZ Group, will give UK and European audiences their first look at the new C25 rifle this week, with an unveiling at DVD (Defence Vehicle Dynamics)2026 – UTAC Millbrook, 16–17 September.
C25 has been officially selected by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces as the next step beyond the C7/C8 platform that has served Canadian and Allied forces for more than 35 years. C25 builds on Colt Canada’s decades of experience and responds to a changing operational environment in which body armour, longer engagement distances, and evolving battlefield conditions are placing new demands on the individual soldier.
A different approach to the body armour challenge
Level IV body armour is becoming more common, and the current 5.56mm cartridge cannot be relied upon alone to defeat it. With no settled view yet on a next-generation intermediate calibre, Colt Canada, in line with Canadian Department for National Defence operational doctrine and employment, has approached the gap from a different perspective: making the soldier dramatically more accurate against the smaller, harder targets that armour leaves exposed, under the fatigue and stress of sustained operations. C25 is a precision and human-factors programme built around a defined Concept of Employment.
Four key changes, one outcome
The C25 was developed under the Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR) project. It features a 13.7″ chrome-lined, free-floating, cold hammer forged barrel optimized for durability and sustained performance. The C25 is chambered in 5.56 x 45mm NATO and its upper receiver, equipped with full length top rail,accommodates a wide array of attachments, such as the Colt Optics 1–6x Low Power Variable Optic.
C25 carries four meaningful upgrades, each engineered to make the first shot count and the follow-up shot faster:
o Greater consistency under stress – a two-stage trigger provides a more sensitive, positive break.
o Improved accuracy across the effective range – optimised barrel geometry reduces disturbance to the projectile, supporting higher practical accuracy.
o Reduced signature and recoil – controlled gas redirection at the muzzle decreases sound pressure at the firing position, suppresses flash, and reduces felt recoil.
o Faster target acquisition at distance – a low-power variable Colt optic extends the engagement window and reduces exposure time.
Together, these changes are engineered around a single outcome: accuracy under realistic operational conditions. It is a rifle shaped through service, with soldier needs at the heart.
Re-introducing Colt Canada to the UK and Europe
Colt Canada has supplied military customers across Europe, including the UK, since the 1990s. Today, approximately 3,000 Colt Canada weapon systems are in service with the British Army, including the Special Forces, alongside established in-service fleets in the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark.
Sean Congdon, President and CEO of Colt Canada, comments: “We’re really excited to be at this year’s DVD. It marks the start of us telling our story, with C25 as our focus. C25 is not simply about introducing a new rifle. It is our response to how the operational environment is changing and what soldiers need from their weapon system today. It builds on decades of experience with the C7/C8 platform, combined with what our customers have told us about the challenges they are facing in the field. As we bring C25 to the UK and other European markets, we’re taking the same approach that has always defined Colt Canada: listening closely to our customers and developing solutions around their operational requirements.”
