Azerbaijani-made "Istiglal" sniper rifle in service with three countries

Azerbaijani border guard, Sr Lt Baybala Baghirbayli has said that the "Istiglal" sniper rifle, produced in Azerbaijan, is in service with the armed forces of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Jordan.

Baghirbayli made these remarks during a visit to the Gasakh Border Division, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He stated that the rifle has been successfully used in combat operations, emphasising that it is sold to some countries in limited quantities.

"The rifle has a caliber of 14.5 mm, and its effective range with both mechanical and optical sights reaches up to 2,000 metres," he added. 

The Istiglal IST-14.5 anti-materiel rifle, also known simply as the Istiglal, is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle designed for anti-materiel purposes. 

It is manufactured by the plant, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense Industry. The rifle uses a 14.5×114mm cartridge and is equipped with a 5-round detachable box magazine. 

Although it was developed in 2008, the Istiglal was first publicly unveiled in 2009 at the International Defense Exhibition Fair, where it attracted significant attention. The rifle is chambered for the powerful 14.5×114mm round and can be disassembled into two separate parts for easier transport.

By Naila Huseynova