SSS Defence
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense |
| Founded | 2017[1] |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, India |
| Products | Firearms, weapon |
| Revenue | unknown |
| Parent | Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Springs |
| Website | www.sssdefence.com |
Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Defence (SSS Defence)[2] is an Indian company that deals in military small arms sectors. It is a subsidiary of Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Springs. Its current focus area is small arms, ammunition and accessories related to small arms.[3]
History[edit]
In 2016, Stumpp Schuele & Somappa Springs, the biggest Indian manufacturer of springs, started deliberating on ways to diversify its business. This led to the creation of SSS Defence.[4] This foray into the business of small arms and ammunition was primarily targeted onto the foreign markets located in Asia, apart from those in India.[5] It became the first private Indian firm to have developed sniper rifles when it’s Viper and Saber rifles were released.[6]
In October 2021, the firm received an order to upgrade some of Indian army's AK-47 rifles to special operations standard. This was the first time a private Indian company received a firearms order.[7][8]
Products and facilities[edit]
Products[edit]
Sniper rifles[edit]
SSS Defence has developed two sniper rifles and plans to offer them for trials to Indian special forces, being the Viper and the Saber.[9] SSS Defence says that these rifles have been designed to be compatible with the body structures of Indian soldiers.[10]
- Viper is a sub-MOA sniper rifle chambered for 7.62×51mm or .308 cartridges. It has a proven range of more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[9][10]
- Saber is a sniper rifle chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum. Its length and height can be adjusted at its butt stock.[11] It has a range of around 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).[9] The picatinny rail system on the rifle has a MIL-STD-1913 rail at a total of 4 positions. It has a weight of around 7 kilograms. When fully equipped with accessories, the Sabre weighs around 9 kilograms. The rifle has an ambidextrous magazine release. It can be equipped with three different types of barrels with lengths of 24, 26, and 27 inches respectively, its RH Twist being 1:11.25". The receiver system of the rifle is made up of aluminium alloy and the surface of the receiver is coated with cerakote and black oxide.[11]
Assault rifles[edit]
The company has also developed the P-72 family of rifles, with design philosophy similar to the ACR, FN Scar, and Czech CZ Bren 2 Family.[12]
- P-72 Rapid Engagement Combat Rifle (RECR) was designed for general infantry and special operations environments. It is chambered for 7.62x39mm or 7.62x51mm.[13]
- P-72 Recon Carbine is a short, gas piston-operated weapon chambered for 7.62x39mm or 5.56x45mm cartridges.[3][13]
- P-72 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) comes in both 7.62×51mm and 7.62×39mm. This provides a range of around 800 metres (2,600 ft).[13]
Facilities[edit]
SSS Defence is projected to become the second Indian company to operate a small arms manufacturing facility by the end of 2020.[5] This facility will eventually be capable of producing 80,000 arms per year, starting with an initial 15,000 per year.[10] By 2021, it also plans to operationalise an ammunition manufacturing in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.[14]
The firm has established a joint venture with Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos for this purpose.[15] This facility will produce ammunition, including 12.7mm, 9mm, 7.62×51mm, 7.62×39mm and .338 Lapua Magnum.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "SSS Defence | OUR COMPANY".
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20201116-mired-in-red-tape-1738898-2020-11-08
- ^ a b "SSS Defence | Home". www.sssdefence.com. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "We create weapons with attributes that foreign ones lack, says CEO of startup behind India's first sniper rifles". CNBC TV18. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ a b Manghat, Sajeet (8 February 2020). "Defence Expo 2020: This Startup And A 30-Year-Old Firm Have One Thing In Common". BloombergQuint. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "In a first, two indigenous sniper rifles developed by Bengaluru-based firm". Asian News International. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019 – via India Today.
- ^ Livefist, Team (31 October 2021). "Beating Israeli Contender, Indian Co To Upgrade Army's AK-47". Livefist Defence. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (31 October 2021). "Bengaluru's SSS Defence beats Israeli firm, will be first from India to upgrade Army's AK-47s". ThePrint. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Bangalore: In a 1st, Bengaluru firm designs, develops two sniper rifles". The Times of India. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d "DefExpo-2020: Made in India Viper and Sabre snipers! Check details". The Financial Express. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Defexpo 2020: SSS Defence displays new sniper rifles". Jane's Defence Weekly. 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "AK 203 vs P-72: Is Army Against Indigenous Weapons? »". DefenceXP - Indian Defence Network. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "SSS Defence » New leader in Indian private sector defence manufacturing". DefenceXP - Indian Defence Network. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Vaishnav, Ajay (7 February 2020). "Defence Expo 2020: Bengaluru startup builds India's first indigenous sniper rifle prototypes". CNBC TV18. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Rs 1,020 crore arms factory to come up in Anantapur". The New Indian Express. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.