Indian Army Searching For New Sniper Rifle Supplier

The Indian Army is eyeing the purchase of sniper rifles that would have a higher range than the Russian Dragunov sniper rifle currently in use in the country, Indian media report.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The rifles will need to be able to take down targets at 1,200 meters (0.7 miles) and the Indian Army needs about 5,000 of them, which is too high a number to produce domestically in a cost beneficial manner, The Economic Times said on Thursday.

The rifles will be given to India's infantry units stationed along the border, the newspaper specified, saying that a wider range could help save lives.

Over the past few weeks, dozens of Indian and Pakistani soldiers and civilians have been killed in cross-border firing.

Tensions have been simmering between India and Pakistan after a deadly attack on the Uri military base in the India-administered Kashmir in September. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of backing terrorism in the disputed region, but Pakistan denied any role in the insurgency.