The sniper rifle Chukavina, produced by Kalashnikov, has successfully passed acceptance testing, and the first serial batch has been supplied to the Russian military. In 2024, Kalashnikov will continue the mass production of the product.
“The Chukavina sniper rifle (SVCh) features improved ergonomics and accuracy, allowing the use of any sighting systems of Russian and foreign production,” says Alan Lushnikov, the president of Kalashnikov. “At the same time, the SVCh has retained the reliability of the well-known Dragunov sniper rifle, which continues to be produced by Kalashnikov.”
The Chukavin sniper rifle, or SVCh, is a new semi-automatic rifle designed by Kalashnikov Concern as a replacement for the old Dragunov SVD. The SVCh is a modular rifle that can fire different calibers, such as 7.62x54R, 7.62x51mm NATO, and .338 Lapua Magnum. It’s worth recalling that Kalashnikov began the mass production of SVCh in 2023. The rifle weighs 4.8 kg without a magazine, with a caliber of 7.62×54 mm. The overall length of the rifle (with the unfolded buttstock and flash suppressor) is 1170 mm, with a barrel length of 620 mm. The SVCh has a reliable gas venting mechanism with a short-stroke gas piston and a three-position rotary gas regulator. The SVCh has a modern design, with an adjustable stock, a free-floating barrel, a thumb safety, and a left-side charging handle. The SVCh also has a full-length Picatinny rail for mounting various optics and accessories.
The uses short-stroke piston gas-operated action and rotary bolt locking as its firing mechanism. In terms of performance, it is comparable to American M110 SASS and German PSG-1 rifles.
Umair Aslam is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Defense Insight. He has worked as a defense journalist reporting on military modernization programs, defense industry, arms procurement, and emerging technologies.
