Infantry: June 1, 2001

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Australia has selected the British-built AW-50 sniper rifle from Accuracy International over the US-made rivals from Barrett and Robar. The AW-50 is a bolt-action 12.7mm weapon with a 10-round magazine. Designated as an "anti-materiel rifle or AMR, it will mainly be fired at soft or critical targets such as trucks, artillery pieces, radars, aircraft on the ground, helicopters flying at low speeds, command posts, vital support equipment, and other such targets. The 94 weapons on order will be delivered by year's end and assigned to infantry and special forces battalions.--Stephen V Cole