One-shot wonders: sniper system technology emerges from call to arms

Although the deployment of snipers is increasingly common by both coalition forces and insurgent combatants as 'force multipliers', technology improvements have been slow over the past few years due to the global financial crisis and the relatively simple mechanics of such weapons.

Current operational scenarios run from urban overwatch and aerial support missions through to long-range engagements in arid mountainous terrain and these are all driving present and future requirements in the sniper market to varying degrees.

According to Barrett Firearms sales and marketing director Kyle Lynch, demand for existing systems and current technology is "strong, but fairly stable. Current systems are being replaced with similar or slightly upgraded technology. Countries with lesser developed sniper systems are upgrading as budgets allow".

He notes a wide-ranging variety of requirements, including urban overwatch operations where ranges may typically be only a few hundred metres, out to "extreme-range" engagements over 1,200 m in the arid, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. The former scenario is a big factor in the growing adoption of semi-automatic weapons, Kyle explains, giving snipers a more rapid-firing capability.

Over recent years, small-arms manufacturers and ancillary specialists have been adding more rail adaptor systems, improved optics and counter-sniper detection aids to weapons in a bid to advance the development of sniper rifles. This also includes a definite trend towards semi-automatic systems, designed for rapid, multiple-target engagements.

There are a number of requirements that are slowly coming to fruition around the world, despite the generally slow nature of small-arms procurement programmes.