Make in India pulls trigger, Bangalore firm ready with sniper rifle

New Delhi: A Bangalore-based firm has developed a prototype of the country's first sniper rifle. SSS Defence is ready with two variants of the firearm that can be used by combat forces.

Christened Endeavor, the weapon marks a major milestone following the government's 'Make in India' programme. Once rolled out on a mass scale, it will boost India's prospects as an arms manufacturing and export hub.

“We started designing and developing these rifles after the launch of ‘Make in India’ in the defence sector," said Satish R Machani, managing director of SSS Defence. The 61-year-old manufacturing firm was among the few companies that were allowed to make weapons.

In its initial years, the company used to manufacture components for the automobile industry.

A Karnataka based arms manufacturing company has developed a prototype of the country’s first indigenous Sniper Rifle. It is built by SSS Defense, a Bangalore based company. The company has developed two sniper Rifles.... Make In India 😎 #makeinindia @makeinindia pic.twitter.com/Lw75z1TQcV

— Vineeta Singh 🇮🇳 (@biharigurl) November 5, 2019

“We have supplied components for our defence sector. Our idea is to develop a complete arms system for our security and armed forces and become an arms exporter. We need to do more and build weapons of global stature,” said Machani.

The company plans to build a factory spread over 80,000 square feet at Jigani in Karnataka to produce the 'desi' rifles.