Inside the UK's unknown arms trade

Sky News, in a joint investigation led by Lighthouse Reports with Bellingcat and the Guardian, has uncovered evidence of Russian special forces using British-made sniper rifles - but how did they get there?
The British government claims to have one of the most robust arms licensing systems in the world, but our research reveals it does not know precisely how many UK-made weapons are sold abroad.
Here's how we found this out - and why it matters.
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[@archiecroft7114]

Well a good thing to take is they must be bloody good rifles or the Russians wouldn’t be using them

[@drake-om7ir]

literally what i was thinking

[@outrageousgamer315]

Exactly. The Russians like their rifles, especially sniper rifles...

[@archiecroft7114]

Sheikh_Shaq But the A1 isn’t in service anymore we use the A2 and A3 which are considered some of the best rifles in the world the A1 was never going to be world class all the first models of rifles have teething problems so ranking them off there first model isn’t very useful. For instance the American soldiers thought the M16 was a piece of crap but look what’s happened there

[@maxpowerii7368]

@@outrageousgamer315 they certainly do. Kalashnikov make some decent sniper rifles themselves but arguably not as good as Accuracy International.

[@outrageousgamer315]

@@maxpowerii7368 That being said, the SVDs are very good based on the AK74. And it’s cheap compared to other rifles, cheap doesn’t mean bad of course.

[@jameskalas16]

These rifles are available on the civilian market in many countries so it’s hardly surprising that they would end up in Russian hands. AI make brilliant rifles 👍🏻

[@Mcfc2Rich]

So they won't sell them to their own people but they'll sell them to other people that's strange

[@theducktator9701]

@@Mcfc2Rich they're available for civilian purchase in the UK

[@sreel7972]

@@Mcfc2Rich might wanna fact check that mate

[@DBZ483]

@@theducktator9701 with a firearms licence ?

[@theducktator9701]

@@DBZ483 yeah section 1

[@craiga6557]

As a Brit, I'm just happy there's something we're still selling that's sought after.

[@fastestdino2]

lmao

[@ca9968]

Yeah, don`t see anyone wanting to buy an SA80...LOL

[@impyrobot]

@@ca9968 lol true what a dogshit rifle

[@itsmesoitis4059]

Guns an washing machines 🇬🇧

[@lovelybitofbugle219]

@@ca9968 I'd love one 💕

[@Mick028]

We should be rejoicing that Russia recognises Accuracy International as the best sniper rifle in the world!

[@JD-ky9ys]

Exactly they must be good guns if they’re using em

[@mostlymessingabout]

Don't know about best. Depends on the application. Russia have loads of Sniper rifles too. But some units are free to buy what they want. I guess British are easier to buy than American sniper rifles like the TAC-50

[@generalkenobi5173]

@@mostlymessingabout oh the americans weapons do end up in Russia too. Its just down on the down low usually hidden from the public. But ya Russian specail forces are allowed to get whatever they want in terms of guns. So sometimes they pick german made guns etc

[@ButterDog42069]

@@generalkenobi5173 no, special forces are usually founded with weapons, usually being AK-12, AK 103,104,105 and Vityaz SMG's. As for pistols it's usually PM, but sometimes yeah, they can be using glocks or other guns, as for riffles it's mostly various AK models

[@mostlymessingabout]

@@ButterDog42069 how are the quality of Russian sniper rifles? I know the AKs and SMGs and MGs are great.

[@owenymcgraptns]

When did sky news get Sherlock Holmes working for them.

[@SnakePlisskin.]

Its profillated off ukranian tv....i can get u the source

[@archiej6386]

@@SnakePlisskin. please do

[@SnakePlisskin.]

@@archiej6386 no bother.....👍 facebook.com/pressjfo.news/videos/1735631223245033/

[@SnakePlisskin.]

@@archiej6386 stick that in your pipe and smoke it....

[@edger7425]

They havent ! They got watson

[@adamdfish5840]

Best advert for a UK arms manufacturing company ever.

[@nerijas4774]

UK gives this guns to Ukraine army for free. Ukraine army officers sell any guns to everybody. Soldiers with 'Russian passport' bought guns made in UK from Ukraine army officers for cash. Ukraine army officers are the richest people in Ukraine.

[@alansmith236]

Or taking from vanquished Ukrainians

[@the500mphtortoise]

@@alansmith236 thats true, what happened to the guns in the ukrainian base in crimea?

[@danyalullah5856]

no real reason they couldnt just buy them from the uk

[@scimatarpictures]

Yeah we make decent sniper rifles? So what

[@669karlos]

So we have tough laws surrounding the sale of arms but those we sell them to do not.

[@patstrzeszewski3240]

Would be nice if semi autos and handguns were legal in the uk

[@winstonchurchill586]

@@patstrzeszewski3240 no it wouldn’t

[@missthelife]

This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. If they previously exported to ANYWHERE special forces will be able to procure what they like. Our SAS have foreign weapons they train on and use.

[@impyrobot]

Exactly there are millions of ways russian special forces could get whatever weapon they want or feel like and they're acting like this is the mystery of the century

[@britishexplorer4437]

NVM about my response I did not read this correctly, its 4AM

[@Max-lf3tx]

6:41 Is that a German Tiger tank from WW2? When taking about UK arms exports.

[@ezl6307]

It definitely is

[@Mewsfinder]

Sly news at its best

[@Max-lf3tx]

@@Mewsfinder Exactly, the UK hasn't sold tanks in 30 years.

[@trespire]

@Max Power Made in Germany.

[@spiko1755]

@@Max-lf3tx especially German tanks produced in world war 2

[@frankmccourt1178]

The answer is usually the most simple. Business is business

[@generalkenobi5173]

Yup Britain is the second biggest arms exporter of course they sell to Russia too.

[@garybrown4952]

Ukraine gets these for free from U.K. it isn’t in the realm of impossibility to think that certain Ukrainian soldiers sell these to Russians to make some cash

[@grahammawdsley4864]

They could have bought them from a shop legally as a civilian and just taken it to work for the day

[@madriditunes7021]

Yeap... But is queen's business.... Unfortunately is big business for EEUU and UK. Capitalism my friend.. Capitalism the government can not touch the Queen and her lukewarm businesses 🇬🇧

[@danyalullah5856]

it isnt like theres anything wrong with a company selling there product

[@pitbak5129]

that's prove that UK make good rifles. good for UK

[@HorseMeal]

And yet we barely get access to use them ourselves 🥴🥴

[@notmenotme614]

Good for the arms dealers bank account, more like.

[@JTT1010]

Joseph Stuart British forces don’t use the AK-47...

[@nathanboyea9964]

No joke. I see accuracy international rifles for sell here in the USA. The models I’ve seen here are $5,000 to $11,000. Definitely a premium rifle, Luckily Brits and Americans have the right to own a one. 😉

[@sticks5614]

@@JTT1010 No they don't but it does have some.

[@Delboy2727]

Everyone sells guns, it’s a really old trade for UK, USA and Russia 😂 why is this such a shock to people

[@mr.slavic1830]

Big true

[@ccmogs5757]

...........it"s only a shock to some naive people

[@adamdesouza6153]

@@ccmogs5757 native*

[@rtorbs]

UK: Promise not to use it for anything other than grouse hunts yeah, pinky promise..... Russia: Ok....We promise **Fingers crossed behind back**

[@disscomcdissco8702]

Great rifles, a non story. Nothing to see here!

[@945672abc1]

The UK is profiting on the overthrow of a independent country. That's supposed to be a no no

[@trespire]

@@945672abc1 It's not the UK government that's profiting, it's the manufacturer of the weapons. As a private enterprise they have the right to trade freely, unless we're talking about restricted technology. Sniper rifles don't fall into that category.

[@commandZee]

AI makes some of the best, war fighters will procure them no matter how.

[@safcnono]

AWM's are used by most military in the world they are simply the best sniper rifle out there. Everyone who knows about these guns has known this for years.

[@J4ckCr0w]

CheyTac Intervention is the best sniper rifle in the world.

[@Mr_Makina]

@@J4ckCr0w okay cod fanboy

[@saiyedakhtar3931]

They make really good rifles, and sell for a premium here in the US. Worth every penny. 👍

[@threeleafclover6003]

"or even 500,000 Rifles" considering AI for many years was 2 men in a shed and there production volume was so low they had to lie to the MoD about where they made them something tells me that its closer to 5,000

[@peteredwards2318]

@Three Leaf Clover that is how the company started, but that was DECADES ago. They've expanded significantly since then.

[@Junaid_12321]

Explain further

[@uberdump]

Can I get one of those open licenses for the next time I go through Heathrow Duty Free please?

[@Thaitanium73]

If the trade is unknown then why does this video even exist?

[@kyawbhonekhaing7973]

becuz the Russians are using British made guns

[@DaneliusUK]

Whoever Accuracy International sold to, they sold on.

[@marcusp905]

I am so proud of are engineering skills ,move on sky news

[@ednamode2881]

What that their potentially being used in the perpetration of war crimes?

[@sasha-vx5rd]

what an idiot

[@daniels1263]

@@ednamode2881 what war crimes ?

[@daddyof3gaming522]

@@ednamode2881 Who cares. Can use a rock or fists in a "war crime" people kill people one way or the other.

[@derekfreeman1505]

Come on and is any of this at all remotely surprising ... it’s been this way for over hundreds of years ! Especially Britain 🇬🇧, don’t go digging too much ur really not gonna like what u find lol

[@tomgosy]

British gun laws not working?! How could this have happened...

[@wonderloaf]

Shocking isn't it? They need to scrap the bans.

[@judewillis1544]

This has nothing to do with the sale of guns to civilians u mong America does the exact same thing

[@ApurtureSci]

AI bolt-action rifles are perfectly legal for FAC holders.

[@tomgosy]

@@ApurtureSci I guess Sky think only our armed forces should have them

[@paulkeogh3518]

A great advertisement for Accuracy International quality British engineering.

[@animovie1]

We make good sniper rifles. So what? If we don't make them and sell them someone else will!

[@alexandersilva8565]

Are they selling rifles to Treyarch as well?

[@tevb7848]

😂😂

[@stiffchocolate7546]

All the rifles in this are civilian models not military models

[@badrobot2765]

Made in England still means something, and we make very good guns 👍🏻

[@thatonelocalauthority2809]

That our countrymen can’t have or even rent.

[@badrobot8531]

Yeah we can 😁

[@thechuckennoris5751]

Fun fact, second hand market. Aaaand international trading, two go hand in hand

[@Jabberstax]

They might be made in the UK but most are sold through the US.

[@MrJohnybirchall]

Am I the only one who doesn’t care? Sky is being very naive (as usual)

[@joeboyd8702]

Interesting. Thanks for uploading.

[@colinyuan5404]

British loves to sell arms to dictatorship, like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar...

[@joemenendez8030]

Accuracy International is the absolute gold standard of Sniper rifles, any military who can afford them seems to buy them, I'm not surprised that of the thousands sold the other countries, Russia could snatch a few up for themselves, it's going to happen, we can't control what happens to them once they're sold, it's pointless being upset or angry about it, the Russian military will always have guns, if these particular ones weren't ours they'd be someone elses, it doesn't really matter

[@13infbatt]

The British know how to make a bloody good bolt action rifle..

[@metalgorilla7865]

It's not the rifles that are the problem It's the bombs and missiles sold by BAE systems that are used on civilians by Saudi Arabia in Yemen

[@man_of_lawlessness]

Accuracy International's website hasn't had the footer updated since 2018 which usually suggests that the website or business etc isn't operating anymore!?

[@BritishEDC]

They are very much still operating, they turned over £15.2M in 2019. 2020 reports are yet to be published.

[@VendedorDeMorte]

I've seen plenty of ax50 model snipers scattered all over Verdansk

[@martinkulik9466]

Why they buy it? They have their own radunov which is caveted, no? Why they buy this uk brand?

[@user-mz5ry5je3r]

​@@martinkulik9466 Because our russian army is strong only in Putin's cartoons.

[@SnakePlisskin.]

And a few HDR's...

[@ChrisFowlerNH]

Operation Fast and Furious.... UK style!

[@britishgamer666]

I think they're talking about Firearms and Shotgun certificates being very tough and transparent.

[@anthonycassidy1124]

We have one of the worst knife crimes in the world

[@kevanharvey268]

We have one of the toughest gun licensing laws in the world, but we will gladly supply another countries populus with arms and ammunition, I wonder if they would be so generous if we as a country were under direct threat

[@Saxymancan]

AI make one of the very best rifle platforms available, used by snipers, target shooters and just about every Army or Police enforcement agency. Something to be proud of.

[@goldfox399]

Not really anything we can do about it.... it's like when the Americans were building the SR71 Blackbird... they needed titanium which they could only really get in significant quantities from the USSR. The CIA set up shell companies to buy it from them without the Soviets even knowing what it was being used for. What's to say the Russians haven't got their hands on one and reverse engineered it?

[@STEALTH1DAN]

Illegal arms trafficking? Not that hard

[@Rory20uk]

Plausible deniability - the UK needs the money and that is more important than restricting arms sales that would otherwise go to other countries.

[@VendedorDeMorte]

Shame British citizens can't get our hands on these, but insurgents can

[@danblackman9506]

What would british citizens need sniper rifles for?

[@OrkosUA]

Those are russians from the regular russian army, not insurgents...

[@ApurtureSci]

Perfectly legal for FAC holders. Easiest way is to join a target shooting club.

[@daniels1263]

@@danblackman9506 hunting or target shooting or home defence

[@ashling3]

It'd be one thing if it was radar, aircraft, AFVs or any of that serious kit, but smallarms? Small arms get everywhere, this really isn't anything new.

[@notmenotme614]

1:11 translated: Sky News doesn’t want to be sued by Accuracy International

[@Mcfc2Rich]

For a country that doesn't agree with guns we sure sell a lot of them

[@seebarry4068]

Robustness and transparency are not what springs to mind with the British government.

[@zoltan1478]

Any answers on to the Russians having these weapons from UK, whilst UK gov sympathises with Ukraine. Double standards

[@pauljermyn5909]

Sky news and the guardian investigation, I stopped taking it seriously once I heard that.

[@sk8899]

UK's firearms industry must focus on:- (1) Precision Rifles for Olympics & Sniper Ops (2) Shotguns for Olympics & hunting purposes British Govt must consider to legalize ownership of Non Semi-auto firearms like Revolvers for ordinary Citizens. UK needs to understand that there is a need to maintain a Martial tradition within the Nation.

[@curtiscarpenter9881]

Make it according to law all guns for export must be made to order so it doesnt matter if it has one licence or the other we know how many of what we make are out there.

[@arno557]

Ever heard of reverse engineering and producing their own??

[@stevebarnes2]

I'd guess they bought them seeing as these are commercially available rifles.

[@madyin3509]

“Why does this matter” Well it doesn’t matter.

[@mrward6510]

More guns the better

[@rewind12354]

What’s so shocking? They are good guns, people want them.

[@kyleahmed6345]

I dont think its much of an issue when the weapons are being sold overseas to countries that would be buying weapons one way or another. Felt the exact same when they first found British rifles in Ukraine/Russia, i was annoyed at everyone's surprise because we are still, as a country, a manufacturer of weapons for other countries (and I assume for UK military use) - same way everyone uses Glocks, u think Austria were shocked that their guns went international? Smh

[@sonofagalwayman6553]

very silly this many armies around the world can get hold of any weapon from any country

[@catalickconverta6823]

We should be proud we make arms good enough for the battle feilds

[@curtiscarpenter9881]

Watch the lord of war.

[@user-mz5ry5je3r]

It`s ironic that the main character of this film is from Ukraine.

[@ballisticdan9135]

One of those Russian snipers allegedly killed a ukrainian soldier with an AI weapon.

[@impyrobot]

No way a russian soldier killed a Ukraine soldier during a war no way

[@dcwriter6780]

Yeah, I mean most special forces are allowed to use pretty much any weapons they want

[@TimSter15]

I find it highly likely that when we sell to some countries, they sell some of those firearms to others.

[@myk6694]

I didn't know Tiger tanks are still been produced & exported.. Lol

[@lightspheres7070]

*SO IF IT'S UNKNOWN, HOW COME LIE NEWS KNOW ABOUT IT?*

[@Bran_Redmaw]

It's disgraceful I want one too but need to jump through hoops to get a licence

[@soultraveller5027]

So what it's just a Rifle not a cluster bomb thanks good reporting. now go and jog on

[@carlvongames6926]

I think the spetsnaz were using it as they are the only Russian armed forces branch that uses a multi cam and those 2 guys were in what appeared to be multicam

[@biswobigrajsunuwar8365]

It looks like AWM sniper with 8x

[@leskiandoka]

Indo😂

[@thomasdrysdale4240]

These guns are all available for purchase in UK lol

[@karlmaguire84]

Best way to identify a sniper rifle? Identify a sniper , behind a rifle.

[@tolitsdterrible4785]

Check if the Chinese are selling copies of the rifle on Alibaba. 🤣

[@martinbensley9926]

Quite interesting, anyone who knows the history of the AWM would realise the British Army was one of the last militaries to bring it into service, that gun was developed by AI for use by Scandinavian forces..... as for the sniper rifle used on the Kremlin again these was avaiable for civilian purchase.

[@ORood]

"In a joint 'investigation' [of social media?] with Bellingcat..." 😂 what a joke

[@huntergray3985]

And the Guardian.

[@JBinthesticks]

Breaking news. Rifle ammunition isn't a guided weapon. If the shooter isn't fully knowledgeable with the ballistics of their ammunition and is skilled in the use of a rifle, it doesn't matter what make the rifle is. A soldier can have an AI rifle, but he will be dead at the hands of a terrorist with a rusty AK-47, if he doesn't know what he is doing with it. Non news story I'm afraid.

[@Jamie-km2sl]

Really good compliment really that people use our stuff lol

[@jameslawrence9125]

The furniture maybe but the rifles housed within could be Remington or another US brand also, or Russian knock off housed in AI chassis systems. The chassis systems are freely available to buy all over the world.

[@florinivan6907]

If its unknown how come its on the news?🤔

[@JustAGuy93-G]

Why does it even matter if we dont know how much of these rifles we export...? The mater of fact in my eyes is the fact they are falling in to unsavory hands. Is it really something we can control? Whats stopping these Russian soldiers going to a country and buying the rifle legally and then using it in service?

[@tombooze74]

So what if British rifles are bring sold in other countries

[@Akazial]

youve got all yer guns mixed up lads lol

[@PROPANE420]

Just give Ukraine more guns! Simple.

[@philupton1816]

All of these guns were sold at the last British shooting show. It’s not difficult to have a sympathiser gain a licence through normal channels, but the rifle and stick it on a boat out of Felixstowe or dover or just off a beach. Get a grip sky.

[@abdullahx8118]

Ngl this shouldnt really be surprising

[@nazmakhan178]

6:41 That's a tiger-1 tank in the right

[@ericellis3506]

Tobias Ellwood....Keeps cropping up on UK Column News for some strange reason.

[@Joe-fe4xi]

Because he’s the Chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee.

[@ibrahimdukku4823]

The manner the open license are sold should be reexamine to help control the arms sales, and can save British image from countries that such weapons are used against, and further stop killing innocent life.

[@trespire]

@Ibrahim Dukku Quite the contrary, when a weapon system is used in the field and has good feedback, that's the best kind of sales promotion for the company. The problem lies with the governments & regimes, not the manufacturer.

[@Younghead]

This sort of thing has been happening for years with many countries and governments all over the world, on the international black market.

[@allanbartlett4634]

Are accuracy international the only arms manufacturer we have left? I'm pretty sure Enfield and bsa are gone not sure about webly. Plus if AI are not government owned cant they sell to who ever they want?

[@generalkenobi5173]

Its ironic thought we must have some other arms manufacture. Cos if search up the top weapon exporters the U.K pop ups. We have trains that run very late at night transporting weapons under the darkness away from public eyes.

[@simonhulmesh]

Russia could have got there hands one rifle & reverse engineered it

[@impyrobot]

Could but 90% more likely bought them from someone else probably Ukrainians corruption is rife there

[@chillitruffle]

Shocking ! We cannot let this continue

[@alexl5949]

Why not? We make lots of money from arms deals.

[@hasercorp8140]

@@alexl5949 she sounds like a snowflake. We must try save everyone. Every human is precious....ugh. Humans aren't needed. There's so many of us it'll be hard to make us go extinct