American paratroopers have begun testing a new high-precision rifle CSASS, which should come to replace the M110 sniper rifles. Operational tests of the new high-precision rifle began in the US Airborne Forces. The tests are being conducted in North Carolina at the Fort Bragg garrison. It is here that the headquarters and command and control bodies of the 82nd Airborne Division are stationed. These tests can be the final stage before the adoption of the rifle into service by the US Army. The fact that in September 2018 the first 120 CSASS rifles were transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division, in December of the same year, the American press already wrote.
Tests of a new high-precision rifle by American paratroopers
Representatives of the American airborne forces in the new high-precision rifle system, designated CSASS (Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System, compact semi-automatic sniper system), are primarily attracted by its compact size. Sergeant 1st Class Ross Martin, who is a tester of the Airborne and Special Operations Directorate of the United States Command, spoke about this in particular. For paratroopers, reducing the length of the sniper rifle and its mass are very important.
Unlike traditional high-precision sniper rifles, which are distinguished by their large dimensions, barrels about 20 inches long and weighing from 7 kg and more, providing the possibility of accurate shooting at long distances, the new rifles that are tested within the framework of the CSASS classification are more adapted to the conditions of modern combat. … This is an evolutionary product that is more focused on conducting combat operations in urban conditions and in densely built-up conditions, for working with and around armored vehicles, that is, in those conditions where traditional sniper systems sometimes turn out to be too bulky and inconvenient weapons (not with any sniper rifle can be comfortably accommodated in an infantry fighting vehicle or armored personnel carrier).
The new high-precision rifle CSASS, with a reduced overall length (even when using a silencer) and an adjustable buttstock, will provide airborne troops with better maneuverability and easier positioning in battle. The advantages of the new rifle include the fact that when landing from the air, it will be possible to reduce the volume and size of the soldier's combat load. The new high-precision system is better suited for paratroopers without reducing their ability to counter enemy soldiers.
As noted by the American military personnel who took part in the tests, the new high-precision CSASS rifles are much lighter and shorter than those already in service with the American army snipers. The use of new rifles makes it easier to make long exits and marches, and also reduces the reaction time in response to fire contact from the enemy or simply when an enemy is detected. Separately, during the tests, the paratroopers checked the reliability of standard optical sights and the preservation of the settings and characteristics of the sights after parachute landing. This is critical for shooters who may collide with the enemy immediately after landing and must engage in combat.
Why Americans are not happy with the M110
The fact that the Americans are thinking about replacing their M110 sniper rifle has been known for a long time. The tender for the creation of a new rifle, which should be lighter and more compact than the M110, while retaining the ability to engage targets at a maximum distance of 1000 meters from the shooter, was announced in the United States back in 2014. At the same time, the M110 sniper rifle itself was adopted by the American army relatively recently, this happened in 2008. The American company Knight's Armament Company is engaged in the production of these rifles. The rifle was actively used by the American military during the hostilities in Afghanistan and Iraq, which made it possible to accumulate a wealth of experience in its use in real combat conditions.
The operation of rifles can be called ambiguous. Snipers who used the M110 immediately complained about a number of parameters important for small arms. Among other things, they called the low reliability and build quality of rifles, as well as low durability and a decrease in shooting accuracy over time. According to some fighters, after about 500 shots, the accuracy of fire of the M110 rifles seriously dropped. All this together became the reason that the rifle was abandoned first in the American army, then in the Marine Corps, as well as in army special units.
Precision rifles CSASS
To date, it is known that within the framework of the project to create a compact semi-automatic sniper system (CSASS), the winner was a German rifle from the well-known company H&K. The company presented to the competition a "thinner" version of its G28 sniper rifle, which was developed specifically for the Bundeswehr. The German military formulated their requirements for this rifle, taking into account the generalization of the experience of the fighting of German soldiers in Afghanistan.
In the American army, the new rifle is still under different designations both as the HK G28-110 and as the M110A. The lightweight version of the sniper rifle from Heckler & Koch is presented in the same caliber as the previous M110 rifle, the weapon uses a standard NATO cartridge 7, 62x51 mm NATO. It is known that in the budget for 2019, the production of new sniper rifles was funded in the amount of $ 46.2 million. For this amount, the Americans expect to receive 5,180 rifles made according to the CSASS classification (approximately $ 8,190 per piece), and in the future, the number of new rifles in the American army may grow to 8,100 pieces.
German designers developed the G28 rifle based on the HK MR308 self-loading sporting and hunting rifle, which in turn was a civilian version of the famous HK417 automatic rifle. According to the concept of its combat use, the new sniper rifle, which the US military chose, is closest to the Soviet / Russian Dragunov sniper rifle - the famous SVD. The most effective firing range of the novelty is 600 meters at chest targets and 800 meters at growth targets. At the same time, as noted by the American military, the rifle is very effective in close-range combat - up to 300 meters. Its compactness and lightness allow shooters to feel confident in close combat with the enemy. For the German sniper rifles Heckler & Koch HK G28, the manufacturer declared the following accuracy rates: when firing a series of 10 shots, the maximum dispersion at a distance of 100 meters is 4.5 cm or no more than 1.5 arc minutes (MOA).
The high-precision sniper rifle HK G28-110 is built on a scheme using gas-operated automatic with a short piston stroke and a butterfly valve. At the same time, the shooter was able to independently change the settings of the gas regulator, which allows more efficient use of devices for silent shooting. The rifle uses a two-position gas regulator. There is no possibility of automatic fire, you can hit targets only with single shots.
The receiver of the new rifle consists of two halves, the upper one of which is made of steel, the lower one of aluminum. Initially, the rifle was presented in two versions: Standard and Patrol. The latter is a lightweight weapon configuration with a lightweight and shortened forend and a lightweight adjustable buttstock. Most likely, it is the latest version, which is designed for effective use during long foot raids, that is being tested by American paratroopers and soldiers of army special forces. In all other respects, the rifles are completely identical to each other.
The length of the rifle ranges from 965 to 1082 mm and can be changed using a modern telescopic stock. The barrel length is 420 mm. For comparison, the length of the M110 rifle is 1219 mm, the barrel length is 508 mm. The mass of the weapon in the standard configuration does not exceed 5.8 kg, in the Patrol version - 5, 15 kg. Thus, the new rifle is almost two kilograms lighter than its predecessor. Like the M110 sniper rifle, the new American high-precision rifle will be equipped with magazines with a capacity of 10 or 20 rounds.
