Indian media with reference to the command of the armed forces of the country reports that, that until the end of January 2019 year to go 5719 sniper rifles from the Italian and American manufacturers. It is the party of sniper weapons in the framework of previously concluded contracts with foreign manufacturers of small arms.
The Indian media is emphasized, that the acquisition of new sniper rifles in western companies represents the "end of an era of Soviet and Russian sniper weapons" in the Indian Army.
So, Indian newspaper Financial Express published material, in which the columnist Huma Siddiqui said an important decision on the replacement of the Dragunov sniper rifle on the "more modern Beretta (Italy) и Barrett MRAD (USA)».
stated, that India initially will purchase ammunition for the Small Arms abroad, and then organize the licensed production at home.
From the material in said publication:
The Indian army is using Dragunov sniper rifles chambered for 7.62 × 54, purchased from Russia in the early 1990s. But the Army wants to modernize its forces and replace Soviet-era rifles. SVD have long range in 800 m and equipped with modern sighting systems, bipod. Also ammunition is very expensive.
Actually, Effective range of the SVD 1200 m. In this modern modifications are equipped with optical sights SVD, including night vision sights. India has not heard about it?
ammunition phrase “very expensive” also looks strange. Expensive compared with what?
by the way, it should be noted, SVD in India that is available under the Russian license.
On the basis of a contract with Western manufacturers India then get the right to produce 5 million rounds of ammunition .338 Lapua Magnum with technologies like transfer state enterprise, and private companies.
The first Indian troops, which will receive new sniper rifles (20 January), soldiers will, related to the Northern Command of the Indian Army. We are talking about a few units, stationed near the border with Pakistan.
India is now considering the possibility of purchases of rifles and machine guns.
