LMT’s Sturmgewehr 25 for the Swiss Armed Forces
- Marco Damaso
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
LMT Defense, in partnership with SWISSLOXX AG, has announced the award of a significant contract to supply small arms to the Swiss Armed Forces. This contract includes rifles in various calibers, with a primary focus on the 5.56×45 NATO caliber, officially designated as the Sturmgewehr 25 (Stgw 25).
Following the successful fielding of the MARS-H 7.62 (designated as the 7.62mm Zf Stgw 20) as a DMR for the Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 (AAD 10) and the Military Police Special Detachment (MP Spez Det), the Swiss Armed Forces have once again placed their trust in LMT Defense for their small arms needs.
The Stgw 25 will equip all units of the Special Forces Command, including the Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10 (AAD 10), the Military Police Special Detachment (MP Spez Det), the Grenadier Battalions 20 and 30 (Gren Bat 20 and 30), and the Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17 (Fsch Aufkl Kp 17), as well as all units of the Military Police.
I’m not conducting a full review of these rifles, as the final configuration of the Stgw 25 has not been made public, and numerous reviews of LMT’s MARS-L rifles are already available online. Instead, I am focusing on the specific details based on available open-source information.
Why LMT?
LMT successfully navigated the rigorous procurement process of the Swiss Armed Forces to secure this contract. However, beyond this achievement, it’s important to recognize that LMT Defense has built a solid reputation as a trusted supplier of military rifles over the past decades.
Here are some key milestones in LMT’s history:
2010 – LM308MWS (7.62×51mm) adopted by the British Armed Forces
2017 – MARS-L (5.56×45mm) adopted by the New Zealand Defense Forces
2020 – MARS-L Piston (5.56×45mm), MARS-H (7,62x51mm) and 40mm Rail Mounted M203 adopted by the Estonian Defense Forces
2020 – MARS-H (7.62×51mm) adopted by the Swiss Special Forces
2023 – MARS-H (6.5mm Creedmoor) adopted by the British Armed Forces
LMT Rifles
LMT rifles are AR-15-pattern rifles, but they feature several unique design elements that set them apart:
Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP): The upper receiver is a rugged, one-piece Picatinny-topped AR-15-style platform, forged from a single block of aluminum to minimize flex and enhance durability.
Quick-Change Barrel System: The MRP design allows the operator to easily swap barrel lengths, calibers, or even operating systems (Direct Impingement vs. Piston driven) in the field, offering unmatched modularity.
Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS): All controls—selector, magazine release, bolt catch, and charging handle—are fully ambidextrous and identical on both sides, ensuring seamless operation for left- and right-handed users.
Sturmgewehr 25 (Stgw 25)
Based on available information from trade shows and industry sources, it is reasonable to assume that the Stgw 25 is based on the MARS-L 5.56 Piston. The rifle is expected to feature 16-inch (Stgw 25) and 12-inch (Stgw 25 kurz or k) barrel lengths, an M-LOK handguard, a SureFire WARCOMP flash hider, and an FDE (Flat Dark Earth) color scheme, similar to the Swiss MARS-H (7.62mm Zf Stgw 20).
Based on the available information, here are some notable specifics of the Stgw 25:
Handguard: The Stgw 25 has a longer M-LOK handguard compared to the older Estonian R20 RAHE. While the R20 RAHE handguard features four M-LOK slots and one QD hole, the Stgw 25 features six M-LOK slots, providing better options for mounting ancillaries.
Selector: Unlike a standard AR-15 selector, the Stgw 25’s selector can be set to "Safe" even when the weapon is uncocked, providing an additional layer of safety (AXLE EURO Trigger). The Stgw 25 features a standard AR-15 style selector with semi-automatic at the 90° position and full-automatic at 180°.
Flash Hider: The Stgw 25 appears to be equipped with the SureFire WARCOMP flash hider, which not only reduces flash but also significantly minimizes muzzle rise. Additionally, it is likely that some Stgw 25 rifles will be fitted with SureFire SOCOM556 RC2 or RC3 suppressors, which are already in use with the Swiss Special Forces on their SIG SG553 (5.6mm Stgw 07k).
Magazines: The Stgw 25 appears to be equipped with state-of-the-art PMAG 30-round window magazines. These magazines are renowned for their reliability and have been approved for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, among others.
Additional key features include LMT’s enhanced bolt carrier group for improved reliability, chrome-lined barrels for increased longevity, a beveled magazine well for easier reloading, and a quick-change barrel system for enhanced modularity.
On the Range
The MARS-L, like most AR-15 platforms, is easy and comfortable to handle and shoot, thanks to its excellent ergonomics and fully ambidextrous controls. What stands out immediately is how slim and comfortable the handguard is, especially for a piston-driven rifle.
One of the most notable features is LMT’s two-stage combat AXLE trigger. With a 4.5 lbs pull, the trigger is crisp, clean, and perfectly suited for both rapid drills and precision work.
Typically, piston-driven rifles generate more felt recoil than direct impingement (DI) systems due to the added mass and moving parts, which result in a slightly more abrupt and less linear recoil impulse. However, that doesn’t apply to LMT’s piston-driven rifles, which perform on par with most DI rifles. Even with a 12” barrel, the MARS-L remains exceptionally comfortable to shoot.
When it comes to accuracy, LMT rifles deliver—period! The New Zealand Defence Forces highlighted this when they adopted the MARS-L, recognizing its precision and reliability. Below, you can see the results achieved with a 16” barrel and 77-grain ammunition. No further comments needed!
Various
At this time, no official information is available regarding other calibers for the Stgw 25. However, an interesting detail has emerged—a Swiss gun shop is selling a rifle named the “LMT Defense MLC Swiss SFC Mars-Law Close Protection Rifle System 9 inch" chambered in .300 Blackout with a LAW folding stock. This might be a hint at additional configurations!
As for ancillaries, no concrete information is available yet. We will likely have to wait for the first images of fielded weapons. However, based on the Stgw 25 image released by armasuisse, one can identify a Trijicon VCOG 1-6x24 LPVO, as well as a B&T weapon lightand a B&T short foregrip—identical to those used in the current 5.6 mm Stgw 07 configuration. Notably absent from the picture is the Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Laser (ATPIAL AN/PEQ-15).
Please note: The ancillaries and suppressor depicted in the range photos are not the official accessories for the Stgw 25
Conclusion
AR-15 pattern rifles have regained interest among many armed forces—not only within Tier 1 Special Forces but also among Special Operations Forces (e.g., the UK’s L403A1/Knights Armament KS-1 for the Ranger Battalions and Royal Marines Commandos) and even conventional armies (e.g., the French Army’s Heckler & Koch 416 F and the Estonian Defense Forces’ R20 RAHE /LMT MARS-L Piston).
The Swiss Armed Forces are following this path and have chosen an excellent rifle for the Special Forces, which will complement (or possibly replace?) the in-service SIG SG553 rifles (5.6mm Stgw 07 and 5.6mm Stgw 07 K).
I'm excited about this decision and eager to see which units will be equipped, what other rifles and calibers will be fielded, and which ancillaries will be chosen for the Stgw 25. The first official images of the rifles will likely only emerge in one or two years, once the weapons have been fielded.
Comentários