Thermal Imaging in the Afghanistan darkness
Defence analyst Dr Graham Cushway examines the return of the sniper amid the growing intensity of counter insurgency operations in Afghanistan, and the new developments in Sniper Thermal Imaging Capability for night conditions.
The British armed forces have long had an ambiguous attitude to sniping. Despite repeated demonstrations of the value of snipers, in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and the Gulf War, British sniper development has been hindered by a perceived moral ambiguity. The demands of recent operations and changing political perceptions have led the MoD to re-appraise the role of snipers in the British armed forces. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, two-man sniper teams have proved capable of engaging targets at extreme range, allowing British forces to avoid costly engagements in complex urban environments or heavy vegetation. The rocky, dusty terrain with little cover common to both theatres also lends itself to sniper warfare. Politically, snipers have also found favour due to their ability to eliminate specific targets with more certainty than airstrikes and without causing collateral damage. Once stigmatised for their apparent willingness to kill in cold blood, the role of snipers has been re-appraised and they are now accorded enough prestige to feature in a recent episode of Top Gear.
Despite the Labour government's addiction to illogical defence cuts, operational demands have led to windfalls in terms of infantry equipment, via the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) programme. In 2008, the MoD announced that one project financed under UOR would be an £11m Sniper System Improvement Program (SSIP). 580 L115A3 rifles from Accuracy International were introduced in 2008 as replacements for the older L96 rifle from the same source. The new rifles have improved stopping power, firing a heavier 8.93mm round, and extending the sniper's effective range from 1,000 to 1,500m. Other features include a suppressor to lessen the chance of detection and an improved daylight scope, which compensates for heat haze and has double the magnification.
However, another lesson drawn from recent operations in Afghanistan is the importance of night vision equipment, which allows a crucial battlefield edge over the night-blind Taliban and allows coalition forces to launch night operations with little chance of disruption. VIPIR night vision sets had already been in use in Afghanistan for some years and an improved night-scope was expected as part of the SSIP program, known as the Sniper Thermal Imaging Capability (STIC). In response, the MoD opted to purchase an improved sight from VIPIR's originators in April 2008.
As a result, the SVIPR2+ suite was developed, which incorporates a thermal sniper sight, a spotter's site and a weapon integration kit. Unlike most night vision sights, SVIPR2+ is designed to operate in total darkness, rather than in conditions where there is some ambient light from star or moonlight. This is an improvement over systems such as the Head Mounted Night Vision System (HMNVS) already in use, which have proved incapable of operating in conditions with too little ambient light. SVIPR2+ sniper teams should remain capable in heavy cloud or dust cover. While snipers using SVIPR2+ may not be able to reach quite the range achievable with the day sight, the system does allow the detection and engagement of targets at 1,200m by night.
SVIPR2+ is also fairly light at 1kg, and is small compared to some of the immediate competition, such as SAGEM's enormous Lunette FRF2, currently in service with the French army. It is also lighter than the older German AIM HuntIR TI and SIMRAD's KN200, which has found favour with the Norwegian army and US Special Forces. The system does have a deficiency in terms of power consumption. SVIPR2+ requires four AA batteries, which is poor compared to its competitors. These also only power the scope for six hours, while other scopes allow 60 or 70 hours' usage before a battery change is needed. This high rate of expenditure is likely to lead to plenty of scrabbling for spare batteries. However, SVIPR2+ should prove a capable tool, allowing British sniper teams to operate almost completely unhindered by night conditions for the first time.
Thermal Imaging
The British armed forces have long had an ambiguous attitude to sniping. Despite repeated demonstrations of the value of snipers, in Northern Ireland, the Falklands and the Gulf War, British sniper development has been hindered by a perceived moral ambiguity. The demands of recent operations and changing political perceptions have led the MoD to re-appraise the role of snipers in the British armed forces. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, two-man sniper teams have proved capable of engaging targets at extreme range, allowing British forces to avoid costly engagements in complex urban environments or heavy vegetation. The rocky, dusty terrain with little cover common to both theatres also lends itself to sniper warfare. Politically, snipers have also found favour due to their ability to eliminate specific targets with more certainty than airstrikes and without causing collateral damage. Once stigmatised for their apparent willingness to kill in cold blood, the role of snipers has been re-appraised and they are now accorded enough prestige to feature in a recent episode of Top Gear.
Despite the Labour government's addiction to illogical defence cuts, operational demands have led to windfalls in terms of infantry equipment, via the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) programme. In 2008, the MoD announced that one project financed under UOR would be an £11m Sniper System Improvement Program (SSIP). 580 L115A3 rifles from Accuracy International were introduced in 2008 as replacements for the older L96 rifle from the same source. The new rifles have improved stopping power, firing a heavier 8.93mm round, and extending the sniper's effective range from 1,000 to 1,500m. Other features include a suppressor to lessen the chance of detection and an improved daylight scope, which compensates for heat haze and has double the magnification.
However, another lesson drawn from recent operations in Afghanistan is the importance of night vision equipment, which allows a crucial battlefield edge over the night-blind Taliban and allows coalition forces to launch night operations with little chance of disruption. VIPIR night vision sets had already been in use in Afghanistan for some years and an improved night-scope was expected as part of the SSIP program, known as the Sniper Thermal Imaging Capability (STIC). In response, the MoD opted to purchase an improved sight from VIPIR's originators in April 2008.
As a result, the SVIPR2+ suite was developed, which incorporates a thermal sniper sight, a spotter's site and a weapon integration kit. Unlike most night vision sights, SVIPR2+ is designed to operate in total darkness, rather than in conditions where there is some ambient light from star or moonlight. This is an improvement over systems such as the Head Mounted Night Vision System (HMNVS) already in use, which have proved incapable of operating in conditions with too little ambient light. SVIPR2+ sniper teams should remain capable in heavy cloud or dust cover. While snipers using SVIPR2+ may not be able to reach quite the range achievable with the day sight, the system does allow the detection and engagement of targets at 1,200m by night.
SVIPR2+ is also fairly light at 1kg, and is small compared to some of the immediate competition, such as SAGEM's enormous Lunette FRF2, currently in service with the French army. It is also lighter than the older German AIM HuntIR TI and SIMRAD's KN200, which has found favour with the Norwegian army and US Special Forces. The system does have a deficiency in terms of power consumption. SVIPR2+ requires four AA batteries, which is poor compared to its competitors. These also only power the scope for six hours, while other scopes allow 60 or 70 hours' usage before a battery change is needed. This high rate of expenditure is likely to lead to plenty of scrabbling for spare batteries. However, SVIPR2+ should prove a capable tool, allowing British sniper teams to operate almost completely unhindered by night conditions for the first time.
Thermal Imaging
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