Troops to take aim with new rifles

British troops will soon have a new weapon in their arsenal, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealing that Shapshooter rifles are on their way.

The guns, which are the first new Infantry combat rifle issued to members of the army for more than 20 years, will fire a 7.62mm round and give soldiers a better chance when involved in long-range firefights with the Taliban.

More than 400 of the semi-automatic rifles have been bought as a £1.5m Urgent Operational Requirement and training will start later this month.

Quentin Davies, minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said this is the latest move to give soldiers all the weapons they need to battle and defeat the enemy.

"Troops in Afghanistan are already bristling with a variety of weapons they can use when fighting the Taliban. The Sharpshooter rifle adds to this arsenal and provides them with an additional, highly-precise, long-range capability," he added.

As well as new guns, troops are to get a new uniform featuring a multi-terrain pattern, the MoD recently announced.

Posted by Samantha Thompson