--- title: "Iconic Arctic Warfare manufacturer Accuracy International joins FN Browning Group" date: "2026-11-06" modified: "2026-11-06" authors: - name: "Miguel Ortiz" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/miguelortiz.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/tactical/iconic-arctic-warfare-manufacturer-accuracy-international-joins-fn-browning-group/" categories: - "Tactical" - "Weapons" tags: - "Video Games" - "Weapons" --- # Iconic Arctic Warfare manufacturer Accuracy International joins FN Browning Group ![A sniper from the Mobility Recce Force of 1 Royal Welsh, aims his L115A3 rifle on a Reassurance Patrol north of Patrol Base Wahid, Nad-E' Ali, Helmand. The patrol had successfully partnered with a platoon of Afghan National Army soldiers for the patrol. British snipers fulfil a vital and enduring role on the battlefield, in terms of intelligence-gathering, target identification and eliminating high-value targets. The L115A3 rifle, part of the Sniper System Improvement Programme (SSIP), is a large-calibre weapon which provides state-of-the-art telescopic day and night all-weather sights, increasing a sniper's effective range considerably. The first batch of SSIPs were deployed to Afghanistan in May 2008.]() *A sniper from the Mobility Recce Force of 1 Royal Welsh, aims his L115A3 rifle on a Reassurance Patrol north of Patrol Base Wahid, Nad-E' Ali, Helmand. (UK MOD/Maj. Paul Smyth)* Whether you know it from “Counter-Strike” as the AWP or “Call of Duty: Black Ops” as the L96A1, Accuracy International’s iconic bolt-action sniper rifle has been widely fielded by police and military forces around the world for over three decades. In a move that signals how far the company has come, AI has joined the FN Browning Group. **Also Read: [The legendary FN SCAR is back and (might be) better than before]()** In 1978, AI was founded by a group that included British Olympic shooters. After the 1982 Falklands War, the British Army sought a replacement for its Lee-Enfield-based L42A1 sniper rifle. Following a strenuous selection process, AI beat out established manufacturers including Heckler & Koch, SIG Sauer, and Remington with its Precision Marksman rifle. Entering British Army service in 1984, the PM was designated the L96A1. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, the PM could achieve 0.5 MOA ten-shot groups with 168-grain ammo at 100 yards. The PM was so accurate that it was capable of a first-shot hit with a cold, warm, or even a fouled barrel. ![Accuracy International FN precision rifles]() *Accuracy International went from a British small business in a garden shed to the international standard in precision rifles. (U.S. Army/Cpl. Eric Perez)* Following its success with the British Army, AI upgraded the PM for Swedish military service. Called the Arctic Warfare, the rifle was optimized for high performance in cold weather and maintained its accuracy at temperatures as low as −40 °F. Along with enlarged controls and a reinforced stock, the AW was adopted by the British Army as the L115. Though it started in a British garden shed, AI has gone on to supply precision rifles to customers around the world, including U.S. Special Operations Command. With its accession to the FN Browning Group, AI joins legendary manufacturers like FN Herstal, Browning Arms, and Winchester. “We are very pleased to welcome Accuracy International and its teams to FN Browning Group. Our Group has always been built on industrial expertise, innovation and a long-term vision, and this acquisition is fully aligned with that approach,” FN Browning Group CEO Julien Compère said in a [company press release](). “Our objective is clear: to preserve what makes Accuracy International unique while creating new opportunities and building on our respective strengths. This acquisition also deepens our long-term commitment to the United Kingdom, one of the strategic pillars of our industrial footprint, and reinforces our position as the sole UK-based manufacturer of machine guns and rifles.” ![U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Colin Haley, an anti-tank missileman with 3d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, fires a Mk 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle during an unknown distance range at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 16, 2021. The focus of this exercise was to prepare for their next evolution of training as the unit works toward future deployments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Reine Whitaker)]() *The U.S. military’s Mk 13 sniper rifle uses an Accuracy International Chassis System. (U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Reine Whitaker) Lance Cpl. Reine Whitaker* FN and AI [announced the strategic acquisition agreement]() in May 2026 and noted that AI would “continue to operate under its own brand, its engineering culture and its UK and US manufacturing bases.” “Joining FN Browning Group opens an exciting new chapter for Accuracy International. We share the same commitment to engineering excellence, product quality and long-term investment,” AI Director Tom Irwin said in the FN release. “Becoming part of the Group provides us with additional resources, international reach and new opportunities for growth, while preserving the identity, values and expertise that have made Accuracy International a global benchmark in precision rifle systems.” In the United States, AI is officially distributed by Eurooptic and Mile High Shooting. **Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty** **• [Ace Combat 8 might be the best entry in the arcade flight sim series]()** **• [Bulova recreates iconic A-11 World War II watch for ‘Jimmy’ movie]()** **• [How World War II, ‘GI Joe,’ and a Vietnam War Marine shaped ‘Transformers’]()** ## Author Miguel Ortiz is a Senior Contributor for We Are The Mighty covering primarily military news and history with an emphasis on weapons technology. He is a former active duty Army officer and remains a member of the Army IRR. After commissioning through San Diego State University Army ROTC, Miguel served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. He has written for We Are The Mighty since 2020, drawing from his passion for the military community and history. Miguel’s work has also been seen on Business Insider and The Blast. He remains an avid shooter, competing in local USPSA matches. Miguel’s other hobbies are traveling and watch collecting. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() ## More - [The M60 ‘Pig’ caught plenty of hate, but the love was real]() - [Geissele wins $20 million contract for new Secret Service rifles]() - [Navy unveils new long-range Malice missile for current and future fighter jets]() - [Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf’s Beretta M9 from Desert Storm is going up for auction]() - [What troops really think of the Army’s new XM7 rifle]() - [Glock made a rifle. 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