Barrett to provide .50-caliber sniper rifles to U.S. Army

Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Barrett Firearms has been awarded $8 million by the U.S. Army for M107 .50-caliber, long-range sniper rifles with associated accessories and spares.

The rifles will include scopes, suppressors, bipods and other accessories and are expected to be delivered through November 2023.

The M107 sniper rifle is the Army's standardized version of the Barrett M82 in use by militaries, law enforcement and some private citizens throughout the world.

Its .50-caliber BMG round can be effective against personnel, unarmored vehicles and light cover out to over a mile with a high degree of accuracy.

The rifle is correspondingly heavy and awkward to use at close range, weighing in at over 30 pounds. and nearly 5 feet in length, but its firepower has made it a standard sniper weapon in many countries' arsenals for scout snipers and special forces.