In a first, Bengaluru firm makes sniper rifles

BENGALURU: As India pushes for increased participation of the private sector in defence production, a firm in Bengaluru has indigenously designed and developed two sniper rifle prototypes for the armed forces.

SSS Defence hopes to put the two weapons on trial with special forces soon even as it eyes the export market. “We’re the first to indigenously design and develop sniper rifles. We’ll also provide users ammunition, optics and other accessories to operate the weapon. The armed forces currently buy these from different companies,” Vivek Krishnan, CEO, SSS Defence, told TOI.

The rifles are called Viper, chambered for .308/ 7.62x51mm cartridge, and Saber, chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge. While Viper proved its accuracy from a distance of over 1,000m, Saber proved it on a 1,500-metre range. The Minute of Angle, used to measure accuracy of rifles, in both the weapons was the best in their class, the firm claimed. Stating that the design is based on armed forces’ recent requirements, Satish R Machani, managing director of the firm said they successfully tested their weapons in the US. The firm said they are impervious to foul weather conditions.