In what can be described as a shot in the arm for the Indian Army troops posted along the Line of Control (LoC), it has been reported that elite units of the Indian Army equipped with deadly sniper rifles have been deployed along the LoC with Pakistan, after getting trained from the American and Italian experts. As per The Print, the sources in the Indian Amry have said that the units carrying the Beretta .338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT and the Barrett .50 calibre M95 have been deployed along the LoC.
Elite units, along with some regular soldiers from the battalions posted along the LoC, were trained in the use of these weapons by experts from abroad. The training included information on the use of these weapons and the kinds of ammunition to be used on operational requirements. These sniper rifles have a much longer range and carry more firepower when compared with the ageing Russian Dragunov that were being used till now. Specialised training had to be given so that enemy could be targeted and taken away from a distance of over 1,000 metres with precision.
The US-made Barrett M95 is an anti-material sniper rifle which can effectively pierce through metal. It has a range of 1,800 metres. It is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in a .50 Browing Machine Gun cartridge (12.7×99mm). Another new sniper rifle with which the Indian Army troops have been equipped is the Victrix Armaments .338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT. This Italian Rifle uses the .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm), a rimless, bottle-necked, centre-fire rifle cartridge. It was developed in the 1980s and used in the Afghanistan and the Iraq war. As such it is battle-tested and is also being used by at least 30 countries. Initially, it was developed with a range of 1,000 metres but it has been used effectively to take down enemies up to a distance of 1,500 metres and even beyond. It also holds the distinction of being a part of some record-breaking sniper shots during wartime.
It is clear that the Elite Units of the Indian Army using the powerful sniper rifles will strengthen India’s firepower along the LoC in an unprecedented manner. It is a known fact that the number of infiltration attempts increase as the summer sets in. This development could not have come at a better time for India. With a change in the season and the summer months ahead, the number of infiltration attempts from the Pakistani side are going to increase and India seems well equipped to take on the infiltrators with world class sniper rifles.