Source : CNBC TV18
Indian Army is set to get cutting-edge Made-in-India sniper rifles from SSS Defence
The Indian Army is set to bolster its arsenal with cutting-edge Made-in-India sniper rifles developed by a Bengaluru-based company. According to a PTI report, Bengaluru-based SSS Defence has developed two sniper rifles, which will be supplied to the Indian Army.
The company focuses on manufacturing small arms, ammunition and high-end optics for military and law enforcement agencies, the report added.
It has developed two sniper rifles, Viper and Saber.
SSS Defence, a part of the SSS Group, has made significant strides in the field of military small arms, ammunition and related accessories. The company’s roots trace back to the establishment of Stumpp, Schuele and Somappa in 1960, a joint venture between Indian industrialist Padma Shri Machani Somappa and renowned German spring manufacturers, Stump & Schuele. This venture marked a pivotal moment as it became the first spring manufacturing unit in the Indian subcontinent.
In 2016, SSS Defence, which was previously involved in spring manufacturing, diversified its business interests and ventured into small arms and ammunition production. Founded in 2017, SSS Defence aims to elevate India’s history of manufacturing to new heights, focusing on meeting the specific requirements of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
Notably, SSS Defence made history by becoming the first private Indian firm to develop sniper rifles. The Viper and Saber rifles, designed for precision and effectiveness, have garnered significant attention upon their release.
In October 2022, the defence manufacturing arm of the SSS Group made history by supplying ammunition to the Nepalese Army breaking the eight-year-old monopoly of Chinese suppliers. According to The Print report, SSS Defence supplied 2 million of the 5.56x45mm rounds for the Nepalese Army’s assault rifles under a government-to-government contract route.
One of the company’s most ambitious endeavours is its ammunition production venture. SSS Defence sees this platform as having the highest potential for producing “significant individual crew-served weapons,” the Industry Outlook reported. To support these initiatives, the company established a manufacturing unit for small arms in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, complete with an internal proof testing range, a first of its kind in India.
SSS Defence’s commitment to innovation is exemplified by its investment in research and development. This includes the development of Semi Auto DMR (Designated Marksman Rifles) with specific ammunition, lightweight Sniper rifles for Special Operations, a close-quarters battle (CQB) Carbine chambered for the 5.56*45mm round, and ongoing refinements to its family of Snip
er rifles and P-72 assault weapons.
Vivek Krishnan, the CEO of SSS Defence, emphasised the company’s dedication to modernising India’s defence capabilities. In his conversation with the business magazine, he explained that they recognized the feedback received wasn’t about improving outdated 90s technology. Instead, it focused on more pertinent matters, like adopting modern weaponry and tactics for snipers, achieving a balance in assault weapons, and seamlessly integrating accessories, ammunition and optics to meet the unique demands of special operations.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
