Profile
- Type
- Bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle
- Conflict side
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Origin
- Canada
- Service note
- Late 2000s-present
Infantry Weapons
PGW LRT-3
The PGW LRT-3 is a Canadian bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle built for long-range precision fire against hard and soft targets. In the Yemen Civil War record, ARES identified a suppressed LRT-3 displayed with weapons seized by Houthi forces after June 2015 Saudi border clashes, linking the system to Houthi-aligned forces through battlefield capture rather than a documented direct export to the group.
- Conflict side
- Houthi-aligned forces
- Built by
- PGW Defence Technologies
- Built in
- Canada
Service History
- In service
- Late 2000s-present
- Used by
- Houthi-aligned forces, Royal Saudi Land Forces, Ukrainian forces
- Wars
- Yemen Civil War
Production History
- Designer
- PGW Defence Technologies
- Designed
- Late 2000s
- Built by
- PGW Defence Technologies
- Built in
- Canada
- Unit cost
- Over C$10,000 reported by WeaponSystems.net
- Produced
- Late 2000s-present
- Number built
- More than 2,000 systems reported by PGW
- Variants
- LRT-3 SWS
Specifications
- Action
- Manually operated bolt action
- Caliber
- .50 BMG / 12.7 x 99 mm NATO
- Magazine
- 5-round detachable box magazine
- Effective range
- 1,800 m
- Weight
- 11.4 kg without magazine; 12.13 kg with empty magazine
- Length
- 135.89 cm open with brake; 110.49 cm folded with brake
- Barrel
- 28 in / 71.12 cm match-grade 416 stainless barrel
Conflict Usage
- Yemen Civil War
- Side: Houthi-aligned forcesRole: Long-range anti-materiel precision fire
ARES identified a suppressed PGW LRT-3 in Houthi service after images circulated from June 2015 clashes on the Saudi-Yemeni border, reporting that Houthi forces had seized the rifle alongside other small arms.
PGW LRT-3 Images
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LRT-3Publisher: PGW Defence Technologies | Note: Supports manufacturer background, product images, and official LRT-3 specifications including caliber, weight, length, barrel, magazine capacity, and effective range. | Accessed: 2026-06-20North American anti-materiel rifles with Houthi forces in YemenPublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports Yemen Civil War direct-use context: the PGW LRT-3 was used by Houthi-aligned forces after being identified in Houthi service and reportedly seized by Houthi forces during June 2015 border clashes. | Accessed: 2026-06-20PGW LRT-3Publisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports background, origin, type, production context, users, and secondary specification cross-checks for the LRT-3. | Accessed: 2026-06-20