SSS Defence gets additional order from friendly nation for sniper rifles, $30 mn worth ammunition

Private firm had earlier bagged contracts to supply nearly $50 mn worth of ammunition from multiple friendly countries, the deliveries of which have been completed.

.338 Saber sniper rifle, made by Bengaluru-based firm SSS Defence | By Special Arrangement

New Delhi: Indian small-arms start up SS Defence has got additional orders for its .338 Lapua Magnum caliber sniper rifle from a friendly country based on user experience, ThePrint has learnt.

The Bengaluru-based company has also got a $ 30 million contract for the supply of ammunition of a different caliber from the same country, sources said.

ThePrint was the first to report in July last year that from being an importer of sniper rifles all this while, India has managed to get its first export order.

“SSS Defence has got more orders from a friendly country for its sniper rifle. The rifle was used by the particular country and tested. Based on the performance, the country has now placed a larger order as per the information submitted by the company and the country concerned,” a source in the defence and security establishment said.

The sources added the same country has also placed the contract for the supply of 7.62×51 mm caliber rounds which is in the process of being executed.

The private firm had earlier bagged contracts to supply nearly $50 million worth of ammunition from multiple friendly countries including a neighbour, the deliveries of which have been completed.

The source underlined that while private companies are also looking for clients on their own, the Indian government is hand holding them through faster clearances and also channelling foreign requests to them.

In February, the National Security Guard (NSG) Thursday won the All India Police Commando Competition in the sniper category, beating the commando wings of the central armed police forces and that of the states. The NSG team was using a .338 Saber sniper rifle manufactured by SSS Defence.

The second position was taken by the Maharashtra Police’s Force One, which uses the Barrett 50 Cal. Known as the world’s best, the formidable American sniper rifle is in use with the American special forces and the Indian Army, which had gone in for limited numbers to shore up capabilities at the Line of Control (LoC). The Force One won the competition last year.

The Saber .338 is the only indigenously designed and manufactured sniper rifle in the most reputed of sniper calibers. It has an effective range of about 1,500 metres with an accuracy of sub 1 Minute of Angle MoA (an MoA is a group size of 3 cm x 3 cm at 100 metres).

It comes with a 27-inch match barrel (Made in India), monolithic chassis with 2 stage trigger, suppressor compatible with the suppressor designed and made in India.

(Edited by Tony Rai)