Arctic Warfare AI AE
Summary
| Country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Category | Sniper rifle |
| Manufacturer | Accuracy International |
Technical specifications
| Arctic Warfare AI AE | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | Single shot rounds/min. |
| Caliber | .308 Winchester |
| Magazine | 8 rounds |
| Length | 1120 mm (44.1 in) |
| Weight | 6.0 kg (13.2 lb) |
| Range | 800 m (2625 ft) |
Description
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a bolt-action sniper rifle designed and manufactured by Accuracy International. Popular since its introduction in the 1980s, its features improve performance in extremely cold conditions without impairing operation in less extreme conditions. Generally, rifles are fitted with a Schmidt & Bender Police & Military II (PM II) telescopic sight; however, German and Russian forces preferred a Zeiss sight.
The PM (Precision Marksman) rifle was selected over the Parker Hale M85 in a British competition in the early 1980s. The British Army adopted it in 1982 as the L96A1 with Schmidt & Bender 6x42 L13A1 sights; it achieved sub 0.5 MOA ten-shot groups at 91m. The Swedish military required a new rifle in the early 1990s, leading AI to introduce the AW (Arctic Warfare), an upgraded PM version. The British Army adopted AW modifications designated L115A1 (fixed stock) and L115A2 (folding stock), fitted with Schmidt & Bender PM II 3-12x50 telescopic sights. This rifle saw service in Operation Granby and Operation Telic. Some Swedish Psg 90 rifles were modernized to Psg 90B standard in 2011 with folding stocks, Spuhr SA-4601 mounts, accessories, and Schmidt & Bender PM II 3-12x50 sights.
The AW system is purpose-designed and based on an aluminum chassis extending the stock's length, to which other components are bolted. Hollow polymer side panels bolt through the chassis. The heavy-walled, flat-bottomed, flat-sided forged carbon steel receiver is a stressed part. AW rifles are supplied in standard (AW) short and long (SM) magnum action lengths. The cast steel bolt has six lugs engaging a heat-treated steel locking ring insert, with gas relief holes present. Milled slots in the bolt prevent binding from ice, dirt, or debris. The thumb-hole, bolt handle, magazine release, and trigger guard are enlarged for use with heavy mittens. Resin stock side panels were replaced with polymer. Safety is a 3-position design allowing bolt manipulation with a locked trigger. Firing pin travel is 0.26 in. An 11 mm integral dovetail rail or MIL-STD-1913 rail accommodates optics. Cartridges feed from detachable, double-stack steel box magazines; magnum variants use single-stack magazines. Free-floating, heavy, stainless steel barrels are optimized for chambering/ammunition and are replaceable. The two-stage trigger mechanism has an adjustable pull weight of 10 to 20 N and is removable. The AW is usually equipped with an integrated bipod and buttstock monopod. The AICS chassis system is available in:
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AICS 1.0 (fixed cheek)
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AICS 1.5 (adjustable cheek)
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AICS 2.0 (folding stock)
The Arctic Warfare model spawned a family of sniper rifles. Variants offered by AI include the PM (Precision Marksman), AW (Arctic Warfare) as the basic improved version, AWF (Arctic Warfare Folding) with a folding stock, AWP (Arctic Warfare Police) for law enforcement with a black frame and shorter 24 in barrel, AWS (Arctic Warfare Suppressed) designed for subsonic ammunition with an integral suppressor, AWC (Arctic Warfare Covert) which is an AWS with a folding stock and shorter 12 in barrel/suppressor, AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum) chambered for .300 Win Mag or .338 Lapua Mag, AWM-F (Arctic Warfare Magnum Folding Stock) being an AWM variant with a folding stock, AW50 (Arctic Warfare .50 calibre) chambered for .50 BMG, and AW50F (Arctic Warfare .50 calibre Folding Stock). The AE (Accuracy Enforcement) was a cheaper, simplified version for law enforcement, later updated to AE Mk III, now discontinued. The AT (Accuracy Tactical), introduced in 2014 as a successor to the AE for law enforcement and civilian use. The AX series (AXMC, AX308, AX50), designed for long ranges and magnum cartridges, is a major evolution based on the AWM. The AXMC is a multi-caliber rifle reconfigurable between .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and 7.62x51mm NATO.
The rifle system has been adopted by military, police, and security forces worldwide. The PM/L96A1 entered British Army service in 1985. The AW rifle was adopted by Sweden as the Psg 90 in 1988. The L115A1 and L115A2 variants saw service in Operation Granby and Operation Telic. The AWM chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum was adopted by the British and Dutch armies in 1996. The German Bundeswehr adopted the AWM-F (.300 Winchester Magnum) as the G22 in 1998. The AW50 was introduced in 2000 with adoption by British and Australian armed forces. The US Special Operations Command uses AICS as the Mk 13 Mod 5. The U.S. Marine Corps announced replacing the M40 with the Mk 13 Mod 7 in April 2018 to increase range to 1,300 meters. The AWC is notably used by USSOCOM 1st SFOD-D, British Special Air Service, and the German KSK (designated G25).
Users of the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare, chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO or smaller, are Australia (SR-98), Azerbaijan, Bangladesh (Black Eagle), Botswana, Cyprus (AXMC), Czech Republic (AWF), Greece (EKAM), Indonesia (AW, AX308), Ireland, Italy (PM, AWS, AWP), Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia (PM, AW), Netherlands (AW, AWC, AXMC 7.62mm), New Zealand, Pakistan (Special Services Group), Portugal (AWSF, AXMC), Romania (AWP), Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden (Psg 90), Syria (.338 Lapua Magnum version by special forces), United Kingdom (L96A1, L118A1), and United States (Mk 13, USSOCOM 1st SFOD-D, US Marine Corps Mk 13 Mod 7).