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United Kingdom Accuracy International
Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM)
A bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .300 or .338 Lapua Magnum, a magnum-caliber development of the original Arctic Warfare rifle used by the British Army. Its aluminum chassis bedding system delivers sub-MOA accuracy and is fielded by special-forces and sniper units worldwide.
In service since 1996 · 20 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,100
m range
936
m/s
5
rds
💲 ≈ $15,000, Approximate military contract unit price
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
UK export-licensed
Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.
Channel: Government-to-government or direct
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 20 operators
In service since 1996. Status: active · ~20,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 1,100 m |
|---|---|
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 936 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | .338 Lapua Magnum |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 8.6 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 5 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 1.3 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 7 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 686 mm |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $15,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 20,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 20 |
Specifications compiled from public Accuracy International and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Tula Arms Plant AEK-971 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) require? +
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM)? +
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM)'s primary weapon is the .338 Lapua Magnum.
What is the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) used for? +
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM)? +
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) is operated by 20 countries.
How much does the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) cost? +
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) has an approximate unit cost of 15,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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