Infantry Weapons

PGW LRT-3

Also known as
  • LRT-3
  • LRT-3 SWS
  • PGWDTI LRT-3
  • PGW LRT-3 SWS
  • LRT-3 50 caliber SWS

The PGW LRT-3 is a Canadian bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle built by PGW Defence Technologies for long-range precision fire against hard and soft targets. Sources link the rifle to Ukrainian sniper service in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War and to Houthi-aligned forces in Yemen through an ARES-documented battlefield-capture trail, rather than through a documented direct export to the Houthi movement.

PGW LRT-3, Bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, Infantry Weapons
Image source: LRT-3

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Canada
Type
Bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle
Service note
Late 2000s-present
Designer
PGW Defence Technologies
Designed
Late 2000s
Unit cost
Over C$10,000 reported by WeaponSystems.net
Produced
Late 2000s-present
Number built
More than 2,000 systems reported by PGW

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
Design And Service Notes

Official rifle characteristics and conflict-use evidence come from separate source types. PGW documents the rifle as a .50 caliber sniper weapon system with a folding-stock configuration, while conflict sources document battlefield appearance through Ukrainian use and Houthi capture imagery.

TopicEvidence
SWS designationPGW describes the LRT-3 as a 50 caliber sniper weapon system, so LRT-3 SWS is retained as an alias rather than a separate model claim.
ChamberingThe official specification gives .50 BMG / 12.7 x 99 mm NATO chambering, making the rifle a direct-fire anti-materiel platform tied to the 12.7 mm cartridge family.
Conflict evidenceUkraine coverage is based on direct Ukrainian military-media and specialist reporting; the Yemen row is based on ARES identification of a suppressed rifle with Houthi-aligned forces after border clashes.
Ammunition Fired

PGW lists the LRT-3 as a .50 BMG / 12.7 x 99 mm NATO rifle, linking it to the cataloged heavy-machine-gun cartridge family.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
12.7x99mm NATO / .50 BMG, 12.7 mm heavy machine-gun cartridge, Munitions12.7x99mm NATO / .50 BMG12.7 mm cartridge family

PGW's official LRT-3 specification identifies the rifle's chambering as .50 BMG / 12.7 x 99 mm NATO and lists a 5-round detachable box magazine.

Sources: LRT-3

Timeline

PGW LRT-3 Key Events

  1. ARES identifies an LRT-3 with Houthi-aligned forces

    ARES linked a suppressed PGW LRT-3 to Houthi-aligned forces after images circulated from June 2015 fighting on the Saudi-Yemeni border.

    Sources: North American anti-materiel rifles with Houthi forces in Yemen

  2. Ukrainian LRT-3 procurement reported

    Military Times reported that PGW Defence Technologies had been contracted to supply Ukrainian snipers with LRT-3 anti-materiel rifles.

    Sources: Military Times Ukraine LRT-3 procurement

  3. LRT-3 reported in Ukrainian combat use

    Militarnyi reported a Ukrainian sniper engagement using a PGW LRT-3 large-caliber rifle during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

    Sources: Militarnyi PGW LRT-3 sniper report

  4. Army TV publishes an LRT-3 segment

    Army TV, a Ukrainian military channel, published a dedicated segment on the PGW LRT-3 in the context of Ukrainian wartime sniper use.

    Sources: Army TV PGW LRT-3 segment

Media

PGW LRT-3 Videos

PGW LRT-3 Images

PGW LRT-3, Bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 1
Source: LRT-3
PGW LRT-3, Bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 2
Source: LRT-3
PGW LRT-3, Bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 3
Source: LRT-3
Related Weapon Systems
PGW Timberwolf, .338 Lapua Magnum bolt-action sniper rifle, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsPGW Timberwolf.338 Lapua Magnum bolt-action sniper rifleThe PGW Timberwolf, known in Canadian service as the C14 Medium Range Sniper Weapon System, is a Canadian .338 Lapua Magnum bolt-action rifle built for long-range precision fire. Canada ordered the 8.6 mm system from PGW in 2005 to replace the C3A1, and later announced C21 replacement rifles in 2022. The Yemen conflict record centers on imagery-based reporting of Timberwolf rifles with Houthi-aligned forces and Yemeni government or proxy forces.
Heckler & Koch G3, 7.62 mm select-fire battle rifle, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsHeckler & Koch G37.62 mm select-fire battle rifleThe Heckler & Koch G3 is a roller-delayed 7.62 x 51 mm NATO battle rifle developed in West Germany from the CETME rifle family. Its long service life and licensed production have left G3-pattern rifles in multiple conflict arsenals, including documented Boko Haram small-arms holdings in the Lake Chad basin, RSF-linked evidence in Sudan, Saudi-linked G3 rifles reported in Yemen, and G3/BA64 rifles still circulating in Myanmar's post-2021 war.
Barrett M82A1 / M107, Semi-automatic .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsBarrett M82A1 / M107Semi-automatic .50 BMG anti-materiel rifleThe Barrett M82A1, adopted by the U.S. Army as the M107 and later developed into the lighter M107A1, is a recoil-operated semi-automatic .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle for long-range fire against equipment, light materiel, and protected positions. Its conflict record in this catalog is strongest where sources directly identify .50-caliber Barrett or M82A1 rifles: Maute-held sniper positions in Marawi, Houthi-aligned use in Yemen, and 400 Mawozo-linked gang arsenals in Haiti.

Sources

LRT-3Publisher: PGW Defence Technologies | Note: Supports manufacturer background, product images, and official LRT-3 specifications including caliber, weight, length, barrel, magazine capacity, effective range, and SWS designation. | Accessed: 2026-06-29North American anti-materiel rifles with Houthi forces in YemenPublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports 2014 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: 2026-06-29PGW LRT-3Publisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports background, origin, type, production context, users, and secondary specification cross-checks for the LRT-3. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Military Times Ukraine LRT-3 procurementPublisher: Military Times | Note: Supports background context for PGW Defence Technologies being contracted to supply Ukrainian snipers with LRT-3 anti-materiel rifles. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Militarnyi PGW LRT-3 sniper reportPublisher: Militarnyi | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use context: Ukrainian reporting described a Ukrainian sniper using a PGW LRT-3 large-caliber rifle in a wartime engagement. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Army TV PGW LRT-3 segmentPublisher: Army TV - Ukrainian military channel | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use and video context by documenting a Ukrainian military-media segment focused on the PGW LRT-3 in wartime sniper use. | Accessed: 2026-06-29