The US Army has confirmed its procurement of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc.’s MK22 Multi-role Adaptive Design (MRAD) rifle as the Precision Sniper Rifle. The $50 million five year contract will see just short of 3,000 MRADs procured. It has not been specified which calibre will be the primary chambering of the Army’s new sniper rifles but the Army’s announcement does mention the MRAD’s ability to switch between .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum and 7.62×51 NATO.

The news came in an announcement from the U.S. Army Project Manager Soldier Lethality, confirming the selection and procurement of the MK22 MRAD. The US Army noted their interest in the MRAD several years ago and US SOCOM have already adopted the rifle as the ASR or Advanced Sniper Rifle. Additionally, back in 2019, the US Department of Defense procured an undisclosed number of MRAD precision rifles chambered in .300 PRC.

Barrett delivered the first rifles to SOCOM earlier this year and the US Army announced the selection of the Leupold Mark 5HD as the optic to be paired with the PSR back in March 2020. The MRAD has also entered service with a number of other militaries around the world, including New Zealand.

An MRAD MK22 in Flat Dark Earth (Barrett Firearms)

Here’s the US Army’s announcement in full:

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — The Army awarded a $49.9 million five year contract to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc., Murfreesboro, Tenn. Monday, Mar. 30, to acquire the MK22 Multi-role Adaptive Design (MRAD) rifle as the Army’s new sniper weapon system.

The Army will procure approximately 2,800 MK22 rifles from Barrett, the current maker of the Army’s M107 .50 Caliber Long Range Sniper Rifle. The MK22 is part of the Army’s Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) Program which also includes the Leupold & Stevens (Beaverton, OR) Mark 5 HD scope and a sniper accessory kit. The MK22 is a modular system that will be fielded with three separate calibers, the .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum and 7.62×51 NATO. Army snipers will be able to conduct a barrel change and select calibers based on their mission operating environment.

The PSR program will allow the Army an extreme range weapon systems that is lighter than current sniper rifles and includes features that will mask the sniper signature for improved survivability. SOCOM previously awarded a contract to Barrett to purchase the MRAD as part of their Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR) program.

Here is the Department of Defense’ contract award notice in full:

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc., Christiana, Tennessee, was awarded a $49,977,196 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of Multi-Role Adaptive Rifle/MK22 Advanced Sniper Rifles, spare parts, accessories, tools, and conversion kits. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2026. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-21-D-0028).

Here’s Barrett’s press release on the contract (added to article 8 April):

Murfreesboro, TN: Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a five-year $49.9 million contract under the United States Army Precision Sniper Rifle program with its MRAD® (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) MK22TM MOD 0 rifle, paired with a Leupold & Stevens Mark 5 HD scope and sniper-accessory kit. The MK22TM will replace several current fielded Army sniper rifles.

Designed with precision and modularity in mind, the MK22TM provides even greater flexibility within the highly successful MRAD® rifle platform. This multi-caliber bolt action sniper rifle is capable of converting between 7.62x51mm, .300 Norma Magnum (NM) and .338 Norma Magnum (NM) calibers, based on the mission.

The Army said in its budget request that the MRAD® MK22TM rifle platform “increases stand-off distances ensuring overmatch against enemy counter sniper engagements and increases sniper capability.”

“We are honored to have been awarded the Army’s Precision Sniper Rifle Program in addition to SOCOM’s Advanced Sniper Rifle contract. The MK22TM is an extremely capable rifle system that meets the demanding requirements of our military branches.” said Joel Miller, Barrett’s director of global military sales.