The Armament of the Defence Forces and Defence League Snipers is Being Renewed

Last week, snipers from the Defence Forces and the Defence League conducted firing exercises at the Sirgala training ground with newly delivered specialized weapons that will largely replace the sniper rifles previously in use. The purpose was to align the sights of the new weapons. The Finnish company SAKO won the tender organized by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) for the supply of new weapons, and Estonian snipers have previously used SAKO rifles.

"The SAKO TRG M10 is a well-known and widely used sniper rifle globally, being in service in several neighboring countries. For instance, Sweden has acquired a similar configuration in addition to other SAKO weapons. It's gratifying to see that a mature system in active production by our northern neighbors has reached Estonia, thus renewing our top shooting capability," said Ramil Lipp, ECDI’s Strategic Category Manager (Armaments), responsible for organizing the procurement.

The new sniper rifle model TRG M10, recently introduced into the armed forces' arsenal, is equipped with both an optical and thermal sight, as well as a sound suppressor. Compared to previous models, the effectiveness of the weapon has been enhanced in various weather conditions and lighting situations. Additionally, the new rifle has a modular design, providing the user with greater flexibility in assembling the weapon system.

The new weapon replaces systems previously used by the defense force's snipers, enhancing their firing accuracy, speed, and impact," said Captain Ahti Habanen, the Chief Armorer of the Estonian Defense Forces, adding that depending on conditions, the shooter can choose between two barrels: with the shorter barrel, the weapon covers a distance of about a kilometer, but with the longer barrel, it can hit targets up to one and a half kilometers away."

The new sniper rifle also improves the top shooting capability of the Estonian Defence League. "The 8.6mm rifle provides Defence League fighters with a longer range and better accuracy than our adversary's 7.62mm SVD. Another tactical advantage that helps protect our own and fend off the enemy," said Colonel Eero Rebo, Chief of the Estonian Defence League General Staff.

The rifles from the manufacturer that won the tender are an advancement of a previously used sniper rifle, being more ergonomic, stable, and accurate compared to the older model. Previously, the Defence Forces had used the same manufacturer's 8.6 mm sniper rifles, the TRG 42.

"We thank the ECDI for the trust shown in us and for the very valued cooperation. For Sako, it is important that our products are valued among professionals globally, and the recently concluded framework agreement for the procurement of rifles proves this once again," said Juha Alhonoja, General Manager of Sako Ltd. According to Alhonoja, the company values the trust shown by professionals worldwide, and the recent framework agreement further validates this.