Chukavin sniper rifle explained

Chukavin sniper rifle
Origin:Russian Federation
Type:Designated marksman rifle
Sniper rifle
Is Ranged:yes
Service:limited use
Used By:Russian Armed Forces
Wars:Russian invasion of Ukraine
Design Date:2017
Designer:Andrey Yuryevich Chukavin[1]
Manufacturer:Kalashnikov Concern
Variants:SVCh-308
SVCh-8.6
Weight:4.2kg-6.3kgkg (09.3lb-13.9lbkg)
Length:995-
Part Length:410mm
460mm
560mm (.338 LMa)
565mm
620mm
Cartridge:7.62×54mmR
7.62×51mm NATO
.338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm)
Action:Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt
Rate:Semi-automatic
Range:1000to
Feed:10, 15 or 20-rounds detachable box magazine
Sights:telescopic sight, night vision sights, thermal sights and iron sights

The SVCh (СВЧ; Russian: Снайперская Винтовка Чукавина, romanized: Snayperskaya Vintovka Chukavina, lit.'Chukavin Sniper Rifle') is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle/sniper rifle chambered for fully powered cartridges developed by the Kalashnikov Concern. It is designed to replace the SVD in the Army of Russian Federation.

History

The SVCh rifle was designed on the basis of the SVK-2016 rifle.[2] It was first presented in 2017 at the military-technical forum “Army-2017”.[3] [4]

Russian tests of the Chukavin rifle have been completed in the fall 2021 and the rifle was recommended for adoption.[5] The first deliveries were in September 2022.[6] Long-term contracts have been signed.[7] [8] In November 2022, a decision was made to begin purchasing rifles for the needs of the Russian army. The contract for the first batch was signed by the Ministry of Defence.[9] In February 2023 it was reported that mass-production began by Kalashnikov Concern.[10] The qualification trials were completed on October 6, 2023.[11] [12] Some rifles were supplied in December 2023.[13] [14] Kalashnikov Concern announced they will ramp up the production in 2024.[15]

According to reports, the Chukavin rifle chambered for 7.62×54mmR is used since 2022 on a limited scale during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[16] [17]

Design details

The rifle is designed to be used in the same roles — engage (valuable) personnel and assets at short and medium ranges beyond the effective range provided by intermediate cartridge arms in combined arms combat — as the 1960s SVD with the benefits of being more compact, modular and built with 21st century materials and technologies. Relatively small dimensions allow the user to do without a secondary weapon for close combat, which increases mobility.[18]

The developers of this weapon reported that the rifle was designed according to the so-called “curtain scheme”: its internal mechanisms are conventionally divided into "upper" and "lower" parts. The main structural element is an inverted U-profiled upper receiver part made of durable metal, that is used as a chassis and takes on the entire mechanical stress load during shooting. The also highly stressed action or bolt group and hammer-forged free-floating barrel are mounted in the upper receiver chassis. The operating system comprises a short stroke gas piston and a three-position rotary gas regulator.[19] This allows to make the lower parts as light as possible since they will not be subject to high stresses. The lower elements are installed in or on the upper receiver chassis and can be made of lightweight polymer materials. The “curtain scheme” design concept was pioneered by Yevgeny Dragunov in an experimental compact assault rifle with extensive use of polymer called Dragunov MA prototype back in the late 1970s, that later resulted in the AM-17/AMB-17.[20] [21] It differs significantly from Dragunov's SVD or the Kalashnikov rifle layout, where the main structural elements are installed on the lower part, which limits designers in the use of lightweight materials.[22]

The rifle features a telescopic and folding butt stock for adjustable length of pull with an integrated adjustable cheek riser. Rail integration systems allow the installation of accessories like iron, day or low light optical or thermal sights on the MIL-STD/1913 Picatinny rail along the entire length of the upper receiver chassis. The bottom of the hand guard al LR6/o features a Picatinny rail for attaching accessories like bipods, and the sides of the hand guard feature "negative space" (hollow slot) attachment points for mounting further accessories. The 7.62×54mmR chambered SVCh rifle variant is compatible with the 10-round box magazines from the SVD, and also uses proprietary box magazines in the other available chambering variants. Extended capacity magazines are available, for 15- and 20-rounds.[23]

Series production of the new 1P97 3–15× variable power day telescopic sight developed by the Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant and featuring a Horus H59-style reticle for the SVCh started in February 2024. Electric power is provided by a LR6/AA battery.[24] [25] [26] [27]

Technical characteristics

sources.[28]

Variants

References

  1. https://en.kalashnikovgroup.ru/news/kalashnikov-designer-andrey-chukavin-awarded-order-of-alexander-nevsky Kalashnikov Designer Andrey Chukavin Awarded Order of Alexander Nevsky
  2. Web site: Снайперская винтовка Калашникова СВК . 2023-12-22 . www.armoury-online.ru.
  3. Web site: 21 August 2017 . Снайперская винтовка Чукавина . https://web.archive.org/web/20221024011633/http . 24 October 2022.
  4. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/08/15/complicated-history-of-russian-svch-svk-sk-16-designated-marksman-rifle/ Complicated history of Russian SVCh (SVK, SK-16) designated marksman rifle
  5. Web site: ЦАМТО / / В России завершены госиспытания снайперской винтовки Чукавина, которая заменит СВД. armstrade.org.
  6. Web site: ЦАМТО / / Действующий на Украине российский спецназ получил новые снайперские винтовки Чукавина .
  7. Web site: ЦАМТО / / "Калашников": Минобороны подписало контракты на поставку в войска винтовок Чукавина на замену СВД. armstrade.org. November 11, 2022.
  8. Web site: Kalashnikov gunmaker scrutinizes experience of latest marksman rifle in Ukraine operation .
  9. Web site: Новости . Р. И. А. . 3 November 2022 . Минобороны подписало контракты на поставку новых винтовок на замену СВД . 2023-12-22 . РИА Новости . ru.
  10. Web site: В "Калашникове" сообщили о начале серийного производства снайперской винтовки Чукавина . 2023-12-22 . TACC.
  11. https://tass.com/defense/1685849
  12. https://en.kalashnikovgroup.ru/news/svch-completes-qualification-trials-at-kalashnikov SVCh Completes Qualification Trials at Kalashnikov
  13. Web site: ЦАМТО / / "Калашников" передал заказчику первую партию снайперских винтовок Чукавина . armstrade.org . 2023-12-26 . ru . . 2023-12-27.
  14. https://en.kalashnikovgroup.ru/news/kalashnikov-state-defense-order-for-sniper-rifles-increased-eightfold-over-2023 Kalashnikov: State Defense Order for Sniper Rifles Increased Eightfold over 2023
  15. https://en.kalashnikovgroup.ru/news/kalashnikov-delivers-first-batch-of-chukavin-sniper-rifles-to-customer Kalashnikov Delivers First Batch of Chukavin Sniper Rifles to Customer
  16. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/09/15/russia-tests-chukavin-svch-sniper-rifle-in-ukraine-via-spetsnaz/ Russia tests Chukavin SVCh sniper rifle in Ukraine via Spetsnaz
  17. https://gunpowdermagazine.com/the-new-chukavin-sniper-rifle-goes-to-war/ The New Chukavin Sniper Rifle Goes to War
  18. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/08/25/chukavin-sniper-rifle-svch-kalashnikov-concern/ Chukavin Sniper Rifle (SVCh) by Kalashnikov Concern
  19. https://defensetalks.com/kalashnikov-delivers-the-first-batch-of-the-chukavina-sniper-rifle/ Kalashnikov delivers the first batch of the Chukavina Sniper Rifle
  20. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2018/06/29/from-dragunov-ma-to-am-17-how-rejected-designs-become-future-weapons/ From Dragunov MA to AM-17 – how rejected designs become future weapons
  21. "МА - малокалиберный автомат" КАЛАШНИКОВ. ОРУЖИЕ, БОЕПРИПАСЫ, СНАРЯЖЕНИЕ 2000/1, pp. 26-30
  22. News: 3 December 2019 . Снайперская винтовка Чукавина. СВД выходит на пенсию . Zvezda . https://web.archive.org/web/20210301222410/https://zvezdaweekly.ru/news/201911271248-F06pf.html . 1 March 2021.
  23. Web site: Полуавтоматическая снайперская винтовка Чукавина - СВЧ . 2023-12-22 . www.armoury-online.ru.
  24. Web site: Снайперская винтовка RЧукавина получила новый оптический прицел . Ростех . ru . . 2024-02-07.
  25. Web site: Концерн "Калашников" подтвердил качество серийных винтовок СВЧ . www.kalashnikov.ru . ru . 2024-02-07.
  26. Web site: Chukavin Rifle Gets A New Telescopic Sight . milmag.pl . en. 2024-03-04.
  27. Web site: Chukavin Sniper Rifle Gets New Scope . kalashnikovgroup.ru/ . en. 2024-07-14.
  28. Web site: 2017-11-03 . SVCh Sniper Rifle . 2023-12-22 . Modern Firearms . en.
  29. Web site: 2017-11-03 . снайперская винтовка СВЧ . 2023-12-22 . Modern Firearms . ru.
  30. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/02/19/kalashnikov-concern-releases-civilian-version-of-chukavin-sniper-rifle-svch-called-mr1/ Kalashnikov Concern Releases Civilian Version of Chukavin Sniper Rifle called MR1

External links