WASHINGTON (Agencies): The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is set to equip its forces with extreme long-range sniper rifles, marking a significant advancement in military weaponry. According to recent reports, SOCOM is conducting market research for an “Extreme Long Range-Sniper Rifle” (ELR-SR) capable of delivering precise fire at a range of up to 2,500 meters (2,730 yards), or just over a mile-and-a-half.
This modular sniper system, capable of using multiple calibers of bullets, is expected to replace two guns in the U.S. armory: the widely used Barrett M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle, and the Mk 15 sniper rifle used primarily by Navy SEALs. Both these rifles have effective ranges less than the proposed ELR-SR.
The intent behind this new long-range sniper rifle is to “increase effective range and probability of hit in support of the great power competition for Special Operations Forces in near peer conflicts,” according to a U.S. Special Operations Command spokesperson. This move is seen as part of the efforts to maintain superiority against Russian and Chinese snipers in a future potential conflict.
However, the development and deployment of these extreme-range sniper rifles will require new concepts of operations and training methods. The focus will be on determining what aspects of flight or drone operation to automate and what to leave to humans. This shift will require training air crews in a new way and handling an epic level of multitasking.
The introduction of the ELR-SR represents a significant step forward in military technology and could potentially redefine the landscape of future conflicts. As the development progresses, the world will be watching closely to see how this new weapon impacts the balance of power on the global stage.