The L129A1 Sharpshooter is a marksman's rifle that has been fielded by UK forces since late 2010.
The weapon was procured in order to fill a capability gap identified by experience in Afghanistan, where British infantry units were often engaged by small arms fire from outside the range of their own assault rifles and light machine guns. At ranges between 500m and 800m, the only small arms carried by infantry units that were capable of returning effective fire were the GPMG or the bolt-action L96A1 sniper rifle, which is not suitable as a patrolling soldier's weapon.