Arctic Warfare AW50
Summary
| Country | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Category | Anti materiel sniper rifle |
| Manufacturer | Accuracy International |
Technical specifications
| Arctic Warfare AW50 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | Single shot rounds/min. |
| Caliber | .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) |
| Magazine | 5 rounds |
| Length | 1420 mm (55.9 in) |
| Weight | 15.0 kg (33.1 lb) |
| Range | 2000 m (6562 ft) |
Description
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a bolt-action sniper rifle developed and manufactured by the British company Accuracy International. Its origins trace back to the early 1980s when the Accuracy International PM (Precision Marksman) rifle was submitted for a British competition to replace existing sniper rifles. Selected and adopted by the British Army in 1982 as the L96A1, it featured Schmidt & Bender 6×42 telescopic sights and demonstrated high accuracy. An upgraded version, the AW (Arctic Warfare), was introduced in the early 1990s in response to a Swedish military requirement. It incorporated features for operation in extremely cold temperatures, giving the rifle family its enduring name. This Arctic Warfare variant was accepted by the Swedish Army in 1991 as the Prickskyttegevär 90 (Psg 90) and later influenced British variants like the L115A1 and L115A2. Some Swedish Psg 90 rifles were modernized to the Psg 90B standard in 2011.
Distinct from most sniper rifles, the AW system was purpose-designed for military use. Its core is an aluminum chassis (marketed as the AICS) to which other components are bolted. This modular design facilitates flexibility, serviceability, and field repair, allowing operators to change major components. The heavy-walled steel receiver is permanently bonded to the chassis. The bolt features milled slots to prevent binding from ice, dirt, or debris. Controls like the thumb-hole, bolt handle, and trigger guard are enlarged for use with gloves. Cartridges feed from a detachable steel box magazine. The rifle features a free-floating stainless steel barrel, typically fitted with a muzzle brake, and a three-position safety. The two-stage trigger pull is adjustable.
The Arctic Warfare model spawned a family of variants:
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the original PM (L96A1)
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the cold-weather enhanced AW (L118A1, Psg 90, SR98)
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the AWF with a folding stock (L118A2, Psg 90B)
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the AWP designed for law enforcement with a black finish and shorter barrel
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the AWS and AWC designed for suppressed/covert operations with integral suppressors
Variants also include the AWM chambered in magnum cartridges (L115A1/A3), the AWM-F with a folding stock (German G22), and the AW50/.50 BMG variant (German G24) and its folding stock version AW50F. Later developments include the AE (Accuracy Enforcement) and its updated AE Mk III, the AT (Accuracy Tactical), and the modern AX series. The AICS chassis is also used with other actions, such as the Remington 700/M24 based Mk 13 Mod 5 and Mod 7 used by US forces.
Since its adoption by the British Army as the L96A1 in 1982, the rifle system has seen extensive operational deployment. Variants such as the L115A1 and L115A2 have served in conflicts including Operation Granby and Operation Telic. The Mk 13 variant is in use with United States Special Operations Command and is being adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps as the Mk 13 Mod 7 to replace the M40.
The Arctic Warfare system has been adopted by a diverse range of military and law enforcement agencies worldwide. Users of the 7.62×51mm NATO or smaller chamberings include Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Different countries employ specific variants such as the SR-98 in Australia, Psg 90 in Sweden, G25 in Germany, and the Mk 13 in the United States.