british Snipers to get new longer range rifles
The British firm Accuracy International Ltd will supply 580 rifles with day telescopic sights for snipers across the Services, which will fire a larger calibre bullet than the existing weapon.
WO1 Kieren ‘Mack’ Macmahon of the Infantry Trials Development Unit (ITDU) said “The weapon is a great improvement on the current in-service sniper rifle. The new sight allows greater engagement distances, it can be fitted with a suppressor allowing the sniper to get closer to the enemy without risk of compromise, and it has been fitted with a butt spike to aid stability during firing.”
Snipers in the Army, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment will use this rifle. The order is valued at £4 million. Other elements of the Sniper System Improvement programme include night sights, spotting scopes, laser range finders and tripods, and will be sourced from a variety of suppliers taking the total procurement value to over £11 million.