The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has acquired MRAD sniper rifles from Tennessee-based weapon maker, Barrett Firearms confirmed in a 12 March statement.
The statement said that Barrett would supply the MRAD sniper rifle to fulfill SOCOM’s requirement for an Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR).
“The United States Department of Defense announced today that Barrett has been selected to provide their MRAD as the US Special Operations Command Advanced Sniper Rifle system, designated as Mk21,” said in a statement.
Also, the company noted that: “This marks the first time in history that a father and son have had rifle designs adopted by the US military: Ronnie Barrett with M107 and Chris Barrett with Mk21.”
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Monday an agreement worth about for $49,9 million for the purchase of advanced sniper rifles in support of SOCOM.
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing is an American manufacturer of firearms and ammunition. It was founded in 1982 by Ronnie G. Barrett for the single purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the powerful .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) ammunition, originally developed for and used in M2 Browning machine guns.
According to several media reports, Barrett Firearms currently offers bolt-action MRAD precision rifle in six calibers for use in USSOCOM. In addition to the MRAD contracts, Barrett supplies M107 rifles (Barrett M82, standardized by the U.S. military) to U.S. Army and other countries.
In current U.S. military use are the M82A3 and a new version, the M107, as an anti-materiel rifle. It is used by explosive ordnance disposal teams with special military HEIAP ammunition.