At the end of August 2021, the Lobaev Arms Corporation revealed that it had completed the development of the first version of the DXL-5 sniper rifle – the longest-range rifle in the world, which will be able to hit targets at a distance of up to 7 kilometers, reports Russia Beyond.
–
–
–
The company will send the weapon for testing in November 2021, and in February 2022 Lobaev Arms will deliver the first batch of DXL-5 to an unknown foreign customer. So far, the Russian army has not ordered or shown interest in the weapon.
Although the client of Lobaev Arms is not known, the company has good cooperation with the UAE.
“The Russian army already has Soviet SVDs and Cord sniper rifles, and there is no need for new ones. We have a contract with a foreign partner for the development of the .50 caliber DXL-5, as well as investments in the creation of new generation ammunition that will dramatically increase sniping capabilities.“, said Vlad Lobaev, chief engineer and owner of Lobaev Arms Corporation
To see things in numbers, these ammunition will allow the shooter, who usually hits targets at a distance of 1 km to 2 km, to immediately hit objects up to 3 km. An archer who works at a distance of 2.5 km will be able to hit targets of up to 4 km.
At the same time, the sports version of the military sniper DXL-5, loaded with a new generation of ammunition (which is currently being developed), will be able to hit targets of up to 7 km.
“We created four types of ammunition of different calibers. We will test each in November (2021) on the DXL-5 platform and choose the two most suitable for accurate and lethal shooting at such long distances.“, noted Lobayev.
What is the need for such a rifle?
Currently, the most powerful rifles on the market are considered to be .50 BMG snipers. The most famous are those created by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing.
The rifles have some of the most powerful ammunition on the market, which allows the NATO military to disable armored vehicles at a distance of 2 to 3 kilometers. The main disadvantage of the weapon is the accuracy – there are from 1.5 to 2 MOA (minute from the corner) at this distance. These numbers mean that the shots could potentially go half a meter to the side. This is the main reason why .50 BMGs are great for armored vehicles and unsuitable for snipers with camouflage.
“All modern sniper rifles, ammunition and platforms have reached their physical limit and shooting range records are now a coincidence. Armies need a consistent weapon for snipers that will allow them to conduct their operations more effectively in the context of 21st century wars. Simply put, stay away from enemy snipers and eliminate them from a distance where the enemy does not notice them.“said Ivan Alekseev, a former Russian special forces sniper.
The first company to introduce such a long-range rifle and a new generation of ammunition to the market will sign contracts worth millions.
Lobaev Arms claims that from February 2022, the .50 BMG DXL-5 sniper rifle will cost $ 25,000 (21,000 euros) per unit. The modification, which can hit targets of up to 7 km, will cost more due to its uniqueness.
–
