State police has purchased 12 Israel-made X95 Assault Rifles under its modernisation programme. The estimated cost of this rifle is around `1.20 lakh for each. The rifle has night vision scope. Cops equipped with X95 rifles will be included in the security of the Uttarakhand CM. These rifles will also be used in the security of VVIPs during their Uttarakhand visit, said State director general of police BS Sidhu on Tuesday.
The couple of X95 assault rifles will be given to the units of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) which have been formed to assist Anti-Terrorist Squad Guldar, comprising 92 commandos. Some X95 rifles would be kept as reserve at police line, he said, adding that the policemen would be given training before these rifles are handed over to them.
DIG GS Martolia said that the X95 rifles is the Special Forces firearm of the next generation equipped with night vision scope. It is the first of such weapons having night vision scope in the State, he said, adding that the weapon has a rate of fire of 700 to 1000 rounds per minute and a magazine of 30 rounds. The police department is mulling to purchase 30 more such rifles within a month which will be given to SWAT, he informed.
The X95 was developed in close cooperation with elite units and was tailored to their specific requirements and need. He further said that a team of Uttarakhand police who had been recently sent to Delhi to purchase a dozen X95 assault rifles from CRPF in New Delhi returned on Tuesday.
Experts say that the X95 rifles have been made to deal with modern threats posed by terrorism. Some of characteristics are bull pup configuration, optimized ergonomic design, 30 Rds Magazine capacity and integral silencer (optional). In addition, X95 is used across the world as it is compatible with western and eastern ammunition.