$11.3M for M24 Sniper Rifles
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Faced with an enemy that has no compunctions about committing war crimes by using human shields, the US Army is discovering that snipers are a critical battlefield asset. For instance, the American Snipers 501c3 support organization got this letter from a 1st Stryker Brigade sniper team it had helped out with some gear:
“…On April 9th all hell broke loose here in Mosul and we were up on an OP. My shooter spotted approximately 150 personnel with RPG’s and AK’s inter mixed with civilian personnel. He was able to fire three shots before the crowd dispersed. He killed two and wounded one at a 430 meters while under indirect fire. Now the shot does not seem that difficult but if you add the fact that he was firing from the 5th story out of a 12 degree loophole and the persons were running. I am proud of my shooter for making those shots. We were in heavy fire for about 5 hours that day and in all my company killed about 30 NCF and sustained no friendly injuries. I just thought I would tell you a little bit about us…”
Of course, the rifles themselves need to come from the military. Remington Arms Company Inc. in Ilion, NY received an $11.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for M24 sniper rifles (and see weapon review), spare parts, and modular access rail systems (aka. “Picatinny Rails”). Work will be performed in Ilion, NY, and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on May 18, 2006 by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Rock Island, IL (W52H09-06-C-0152).
