The L96 is a bolt-action sniper rifle created by the British company Accuracy International and fielded by British and German forces. The L96 is the origin of the standard AW rifle used for large caliber rounds, such as the .338 Lapua. The British Army began its search for a replacement of the L42 around the 1980s. Accuracy International beat out its competitor, Parker-Hale, with its L96. Later, the Swedish began their own search for a durable heavy sniper rifle; they now use the L96, under the name PSG90. Accuracy International made some improvements on the L96 design and called it "Arctic Warfare" (named after its possibility to use in Arctic environments).