The competition will be harsh on the British Alternative Individual Weapon program with the tenders published.  
All main competitors are represented by their local distributor...

• Beechwood Equipment
• Caracal International LLC
• Colt Canada Corporation
• FNH UK
• GMK Limited
• Hammer Pair Performance Limited
• Ian Edgar (Liverpool) Ltd
• Law Enforcement International Ltd
• Level Peaks Associates Ltd
• NDH Defence Industries
• NSAF Ltd
• Precision technic Defence Ltd
• Raytheon ELCAN
• Riflecraft Limited
• Steyr Arms GmbH
• Viking Arms Ltd

Any idea how the British material manager could write the following description "Procurement and Support of an Armalite Rifle (AR) platform "?   Armalite Rifle is not really a functionnal specification...

UK Defence Journal

British Army Special Operations Brigade looking for new rifle

The British Army is looking for an 'Alternative Individual Weapon' for the Army Special Operations Brigade.According to the British Army website, the Army Special Operations Brigade's role is to operate in complex, high threat environments below the threshold of war alongside specialised Partner Forces to deliver operational insights and effects. The Army Special Operations Brigade can be...

Read more from UK Defence Journal

Because everyone knows exactly what they mean by that. They're talking about a broadly AR15 pattern gun here firing 62 grain 5.56 ammo.

So anything from the not 416 from caracal to the Canadian c7/c8 series to more Gucci "full Ambi" AR's that are either short stroke or DI are all included in the possible tender.

More even than @roguetechie said, “armalite rifle” is how the Brits have always referred to AR-15 pattern rifles.

DavidPawley said:

“armalite rifle” is how the Brits have always referred to AR-15 pattern rifles.

Whereas the Irish have always referred to the AR-18/AR-180 as the 'Armalite':

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Armalite

https://warisboring.com/the-other-armalite-the-story-behind-the-favourite-arm-of-the-irish-republican-army/