Istiglal Anti-Material Rifle used by Pakistan Army?

[Gryphon]

Bigger Is No Longer Better

May 22, 2013: The state owned Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan has introduced a 12.7mm version of its Istiglal 14.5mm anti-material sniper rifle. The 12.7mm Mubariz sniper rifle is much lighter, at 15 kg (33 pounds) with a five round magazine. The Istiglal weighs 33.8 kg (74 pounds) and used a 14.5/114mm round compared to the 12.7/108mm in the Mubariz. A new version of the Istiglal weighs 28 kg (61.6 pounds) and both versions have an effective range of 3,000 meters.

The Azerbaijan firm manufactures a wide range of infantry weapons, including mortars, as well as armored trucks and many components for military equipment. The firm has exported its large caliber sniper rifles to Turkey and Pakistan. Turkey is planning licensed production of the Mubariz sniper rifle.

Weapons: Bigger Is No Longer Better

In addition, today Azerbaijan has a potential to produce for export. For example, as far as I know Turkey and Pakistan have already purchased sniper rifles Istiglal and are planning to buy more. I have also heard that Israel, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia also display interest with it. The negotiations on modernization of technique and spare parts and mechanisms supplies are currently underway with these countries. Is it bad? We produce, sell and get money. This means that there is development. I think we have the most promising cooperation in this field with Turkey, Pakistan and I do not rule out cooperation with Georgia and Israel. Only Iran from the nearest surrounding remains closed in this sense while definite work is carried out with the remaining neighbors including in the post-Soviet area, even with the Central Asian countries. I think the greatest breakthrough will be with Turkey as the potential, understanding and interest are bigger here.

News.Az - Necessary to prepare for war inside the country even in Baku, military expert

 

[HAIDER]

Yes Pakistan is start using it.

May 22, 2013: The state owned Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan has introduced a 12.7mm version of its Istiglal 14.5mm anti-material sniper rifle. The 12.7mm Mubariz sniper rifle is much lighter, at 15 kg (33 pounds) with a five round magazine. The Istiglal weighs 33.8 kg (74 pounds) and used a 14.5/114mm round compared to the 12.7/108mm in the Mubariz. A new version of the Istiglal weighs 28 kg (61.6 pounds) and both versions have an effective range of 3,000 meters.



The Azerbaijan firm manufactures a wide range of infantry weapons, including mortars, as well as armored trucks and many components for military equipment. The firm has exported its large caliber sniper rifles to Turkey and Pakistan. Turkey is planning licensed production of the Mubariz sniper rifle.

At the same time the 12.7mm sniper rifles are losing market share to lighter (6.8 kg/15 pound) 8.6mm rifles. These have proved quite accurate at very long ranges.

Four years ago a British sniper (corporal Craig Harrison) set a new distance record when he killed two Taliban in Afghanistan, at a range of 2,620 meters (8,596 feet). He did this with a L115A3 rifle firing the 8.6mm Lapua Magnum round. The previous record was held by a Canadian soldier (corporal Rob Furlong) who dropped an al Qaeda gunman at 2,573 meters (7,972 feet) in 2002, also in Afghanistan. Furlong, however, was using a 12.7mm (.50 caliber) rifle. These weapons are good at 2,000 meters or more, but weigh twice as much as 8.6mm rifles.



Five years ago, the British Army began replacing most of its 3,000 7.62mm L96A1 sniper rifles with one modified to use the .338 (8.6mm) Lapua Magnum caliber round. This Accuracy International "Super Magnum" rifle is basically a L96A1 "Arctic Warfare" rifle modified to handle the larger, 8.6mm Lapua Magnum round. The new rifle (the L115A1) weighed 6.8 kg (without a scope), was 1.27 meters (fifty inches) long and had a 685mm (27 inch) barrel and a five round magazine.

Snipers in Iraq, and especially Afghanistan, have been calling for a longer range round, but found the 12.7mm (.50 caliber) weapons too heavy. The .338 (8.6mm) Lapua Magnum round has an effective range (about 1,500 meters) about 50 percent greater than the 7.62mm standard NATO round. Like most long range rounds, if the weather (clear) and winds (calm) are right, you can hit targets farther away. Those were the conditions Harrison encountered when he took his three shots (the third one hit the machine-gun the two Taliban were using.)



The 8.6mm round entered use in the early 1990s, and became increasingly popular with police and military snipers. Dutch snipers have also used this round in Afghanistan with much success, and have a decade of experience with these larger caliber rifles. Recognizing the popularity of the 8.6mm round, Barrett, the pioneer in 12.7mm sniper rifles, came out with a 7 kg (15.5 pound) version of its rifle, chambered for the 8.6mm.



Nevertheless, China has had success with several 12.7mm sniper rifles, exporting them to many countries as well as various rebel movements. Some of the Chinese manufacturers are private firms and all Chinese small arms manufacturers are free to export to just about anyone who can pay.

It is the best TESTED sniper rifle in the world right now

 

[mughaljee]

With night vision capability or not ?

 

[Gryphon]

Yes Pakistan is start using it.

May 22, 2013: The state owned Ministry of Defense Industry of Azerbaijan has introduced a 12.7mm version of its Istiglal 14.5mm anti-material sniper rifle. The 12.7mm Mubariz sniper rifle is much lighter, at 15 kg (33 pounds) with a five round magazine. The Istiglal weighs 33.8 kg (74 pounds) and used a 14.5/114mm round compared to the 12.7/108mm in the Mubariz. A new version of the Istiglal weighs 28 kg (61.6 pounds) and both versions have an effective range of 3,000 meters.

The Azerbaijan firm manufactures a wide range of infantry weapons, including mortars, as well as armored trucks and many components for military equipment. The firm has exported its large caliber sniper rifles to Turkey and Pakistan. Turkey is planning licensed production of the Mubariz sniper rifle.

Is Pakistan Army using it? And which one 33.8 kg or 28 kg ....

According to Wikipedia,

The Pakistani Armed Forces is already armed with these rifles, and there are plans underway to purchase more. Pakistani Army is not using these rifles. Their sniper weapons consists Styer SSG 69 and Rangemaster 50. (designed and manufactured in UK by Mr Ian Harper and Mr Michael Cherry)

Doesn't that seem strange ..