Finland to buy new sniper rifles
The 7.62mm Dragunov will be one of the weapons phased out by the introduction of new sniper rifles for the Finnish Army. (Photo: Finnish Defence Forces)
New rifles for Finland will replace 7.62mm Tkiv and Dragunov weapons.
Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command has received the green light from defence minister Antti Kaikkonen to acquire new rifles.
‘The new rifle system to be procured for the infantry increases the usability of snipers as well as the precision and range of infantry sections,’ Logistics Command stated on its website.
Finnish company Sako will provide the semi-automatic Sniper Rifle 23 and the Designated Marksman Rifle 23 for as a section support weapon. The former has a range of 800m and the latter 600m, Logistics Command noted.
Both weapons are based on the AR-10/AR-15 semi-automatic rifle in 7.62mm calibre.
‘The rifle procurement is included in the Land Defence Development Programme, and it is part of the capability development of the Army’s operational forces and local units,’ said Col Rainer Peltoniemi, Inspector of Infantry in the Finnish Defence Forces.
He added: ‘This project builds a completely new capability, and replaces most of the old 7.62 Sniper Rifle [Tkiv] 85s currently in service.’
The new rifles will also replace the 7.62mm Dragunov, Peltoniemi said.
The value of the deal was not disclosed. The first batch of new rifles will arrive with the Finnish Army by the end of 2022, and rifle system training is due to begin in 2023.
Sako will also provide accessories, spare parts, maintenance equipment and training.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Slovakia selects CV90MkIV under BVP replacement effort]()
Slovakia selects CV90MkIV under BVP replacement effort
With the selection of the BAE Systems CV90MkIV under the PBV programme, the Slovak MoD is one step closer to retiring its almost five decades-old fleet of BVPs.
-
![Croatia seeks partner for Patria BOV maintenance]()
Croatia seeks partner for Patria BOV maintenance
Croatian MoD awaits interest from industry in tender to support its 126-vehicle fleet of Patria BOV APCs.
-
![Rheinmetall sells Skyguard 3 systems to international customer]()
Rheinmetall sells Skyguard 3 systems to international customer
An unnamed customer will receive Oerlikon Skyguard 3 air defence systems by 2024.
-
![Indian Army explores light armoured recce vehicles through RfI]()
Indian Army explores light armoured recce vehicles through RfI
The latest in a slew of Indian Army RfIs is seeking domestically designed and built 4x4 lightly armoured reconnaissance vehicles.
-
![Singapore to get wheeled artillery and Bronco 3s from 2024]()
Singapore to get wheeled artillery and Bronco 3s from 2024
Singapore's defence minister provided updates on artillery, tracked carriers, submarines and the country's new Digital and Intelligence Service.
