Azerbaijanian Istiglal 14.5mm Sniper Rifle
The Azerbaijan Ministry of Defence Industry has recently developed a new anti-material sniper rifle called the “Istiglal” IST-14.5. These photos are from the Ministry’s website:
The rifle was on display at the IDEF ’09 arms show in Turkey a couple of weeks ago. I could find very little information about this rifle. The Azerbaijanis may be known for oil, but websites (and photography) they are not 😉
It is said to weigh 20 kg (44 lbs, but can be broken into two part for transport), has a range of 3000m (1.8 miles) and is usable in mud, snow, dust and temperatures ranging from -50 degrees Celsius (-58 F) to +50 degrees C (122 F).
Other than that all I know is what is pictured above. It has a side mounted scope, iron sights, bipod and a two baffle muzzle break.
Photo from trmilitary.com
The potent 14.5x114mm round it chambers was developed by the Soviets at the beginning of WWII as an anti-tank cartridge and later as a heavy machine gun and anti-aircraft round. Compared to the .50 BMG it is up to 60% more powerful!
From what I can make out from Azerbaijani websites they are interested in creating a viable defense export business. Other items on display at IDEF were machine gun suppressors and Armored Personal Carriers jointly produced with South Africa.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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Excellent.Well done Azerbaijan.
I know that "Istiglal "and it has not any ocompotitor.
Its really very strange gun.
i dont know to much about this rifle but i do know quite a bit about long range shooting. I find it very hard to believe that some small little country that most people have never heard of somehow magicly make a round that has been around since WW2 more accurate than it has been for the last 70 years. while this round is great for anti material it has never been suited for anti personal. i havent heard from anyone that has shot one of these rifles either and there are prob less than 30 people in the world that even if they had a rifle that could do it could utilize a rifle with range like that. sounds to me the manufacturer just threw out some obscure number saying the rifle will perform with no proof. kinda like throwing in a spedo in a car that reads 200mph when the car is only capable of going 150;)