FN Browning buys UK sniper maker Accuracy International amid British rifle tender push

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FN Browning buys Accuracy International

Highlights

FN Browning acquires UK sniper rifle maker Accuracy International, with undisclosed terms, as Britain advances its Project Grayburn assault rifle replacement programme.
The acquisition reinforces FN Browning's UK production commitment and strengthens its position ahead of anticipated small-arms tenders requiring local manufacturing.
Accuracy International gains access to FN Browning's global scale while maintaining its brand, expanding FN group's portfolio of sniper systems supplied to over 70 countries.

Acquisition supports UK defence manufacturing strategy

As first reported by Financial Times, FN Browning says it has entered into a strategic acquisition agreement for Accuracy International, a UK producer of high-precision sniper rifles based in Portsmouth. The companies do not disclose the value of the transaction, and Accuracy International is set to continue producing under its own brand.

FN Browning is pursuing the purchase as the UK advances Project Grayburn, a programme to replace its assault rifles for the first time in more than 40 years. Project details published in January state that the rifles are to be manufactured in the UK to strengthen sovereign supply chains, while an official tender has not yet been issued.

Chief executive Julien Compere says the acquisition underlines the group's commitment to production in the UK and sends an important signal to British authorities. He says the move strengthens FN Browning's industrial presence in a market that is becoming increasingly important ahead of major small-arms programmes.

Broader European expansion and defence sector implications

Through subsidiary FN Herstal, the group already produces machine guns and ammunition for a range of NATO armies from its main plant near Liege, and it has recently broadened its capabilities across Europe. FN Browning also bought French ammunition maker Sofisport last year, part of Compere's stated ambition to build a European champion in small arms as defence industry consolidation gathers pace.

Accuracy International brings a complementary product range focused on sniper systems, with rifles used by the British Army and supplied to more than 70 countries. The company says the agreement preserves its identity while giving it access to FN Browning's scale, global footprint and institutional relationships.

FN UK already has an established relationship with the Ministry of Defence after signing a 10-year contract in September worth more than £20 million to maintain and upgrade heavy machine guns. Colonel Will Waugh, who oversees close combat arms procurement for the ministry, says the combination gives the MoD continued access to advanced capabilities.

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