Company Kalashnikov to develop new semi-automatic sniper rifle for Russian army 10109161

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Military Defense Industry Technology - Kalashnikov sniper rifle
 
Company Kalashnikov to develop new semi-automatic sniper rifle for Russian army.
The Kalashnikov Group (the Kalashnikov Concern, a subsidiary of the Rostec state corporation) is developing new semi-automatic and manually-operated sniper rifles for Russia`s military, according to a source in the Russian defense industry.
     
The Kalashnikov Group (the Kalashnikov Concern, a subsidiary of the Rostec state corporation) is developing new semi-automatic and manually-operated sniper rifles for Russia`s military, according to a source in the Russian defense industry. Russian-made SV-98 sniper rifle
     
Since late 2014, the company has been intensively developing various sniper rifles intended for Russia`s Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies. The company has combined the latest European experience in the area of sniper weapon development with its own best practices. Kalashnikov has upgraded previously developed rifles, namely SV-98 and Dragunov SVD, while offering new semi-automatic and manually-operated solutions. It is noteworthy that the Concern is developing new weapons in two configurations chambered for 7.62x54Rmm cartridge and for STANAG 2170 7.62x51mm , respectively. I would point out that their efforts have been crowned with success. In Autumn 2015, the Concern was awarded with the first contract for the massive deliveries of the SVDM semi-automatic sniper rifles chambered for 7.62x54Rmm round to the Russian military. The Special Forces units are planned to receive the latest variant of the SV-98 sniper rifle equipped with a skeleton stock. The company has also upgraded its small-caliber SV-99 high-precision sniper rifle and developed a sniper weapon chambered for the Lapua Magnum cartridge.

The Kalashnikov Group is going to unveil its latest developments in the sniper weapons area at the Army 2016 military-technical forum outside Moscow in September 2016," the source said. He added that the Concern was paying special attention to the development of semi-automatic sniper weapons. "Despite its high reliability and combat effectiveness, the Dragunov rifle - even in the upgraded SVDM configuration - is rapidly ageing. Kalashnikov is designing several new sniper rifles to replace the venerable SVD in the near future," he added.
     
The Kalashnikov Group (the Kalashnikov Concern, a subsidiary of the Rostec state corporation) is developing new semi-automatic and manually-operated sniper rifles for Russia`s military, according to a source in the Russian defense industry. Russian-made K-16 semi-automatic sniper carbine.
     
The company is planning to increase the output of SVDM sniper rifles. According to the information provided by the Kalashnikov Group, the firearm has a full length of 1,155 mm, a barrel length of 550 mm, a weight of 5.3 kg, an effective firing range of 1,300 m, a firing rate of 30 rds/min, and a magazine capacity of 10 rounds. The SVDM sniper rifle features the Picatinny rail system on the top of the upper receiver, a folding stock with an adjustable cheek, an ergonomic pistol grip, an integrated bipod, and a plastic handguard made of black polymer.

The Kalashnikov Group has also launched the development of the innovative SK-16 semi-automatic sniper carbine. The upgraded SVD firearm will replace the basic Dragunov in the foreseeable future, while SK-16 may become the organic sniper rifle of Russia`s Armed Forces in the long-term perspective. Unlikely SVD, SK-16 modular firearm consists of upper and lower receivers, as well as modern Western rifles. Lower receiver incorporates firing mechanism and magazine, while the upper one integrates bolt carrier assembly. The carbine features advanced gas-operating scheme and new recoil reduction system. At present, SK-16 is chambered for 7.62x51mm cartridge. The carbine`s upper receiver and handguard feature Picatinny rails for various red-dot/optical sight, weapon flashlights and laser pointers. The specifications of the SK-16 sniper carbine are classified.
     
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