Family prospects: the microwave rifle passed state tests
Basic microwave chambered for 7,62x54 mm R
A promising microwave sniper rifle designed by A.Yu. Chukavina successfully coped with the next stage of checks. State tests have been passed, and now the Ministry of Defense will have to decide the fate of this development. If a positive decision is made, the new rifle will begin to replace the well-deserved, but old SVD and its newer modifications in the troops.
Test process
Concern "Kalashnikov" for the first time presented a new microwave rifle at the military-technical forum "Army-2017". In the future, this sample was improved and reappeared at exhibitions. In addition, new modifications of the rifle were created, incl. in the interests of other customers. These variants of the rifle differed from each other and from the base sample, mainly in the used cartridge.
In February of this year, the management of Kalashnikov announced that after the next stage of improvements and improvements, the microwave rifle is under state testing. The activities are carried out within the framework of the ROC "Reaper". They took at least several months to complete, but the exact timing of the completion of the tests was not named.
October 5 RIA News with reference to "Kalashnikov" reported the completion of state tests. The microwave oven has been tested with positive results. The test results are now being documented. After that, the Ministry of Defense will decide on the introduction of the rifle into service.
An order for serial production of rifles is also expected. In November 2019, the management of Kalashnikov claimed that the series could be launched in two years. Most likely, these plans will be fulfilled, but with a slight delay.
The "Reaper" sniper complex is considered as a modern replacement for the well-deserved, but old SVD rifle. The basis of the "Reaper" is a microwave rifle chambered for 7,62x54 mm R. Due to new technical solutions, materials, technologies and components, the new rifle should surpass the existing ones in terms of its main characteristics. weapon.
Second competition
Almost simultaneously with the base microwave for 7,62x54 mm R, two other modifications were created using the 7,62x51 mm NATO (.308 Win) and 8,6x70 mm (.338 Lapua Magnum) cartridges. It was planned to offer them to various customers, incl. foreign. The future of the two rifles chambered for foreign development is still unknown, but will be determined in the coming years.
At the beginning of 2019, the Ministry of Defense launched a new ROC "Ugolyok", the purpose of which is to create sniper systems for .308 Win and .338 LM ammunition with an effective range of 800 m. The army wants to get promising rifles, new versions of cartridges, sights and other products ...
With the help of new sniper systems, in the medium term, it is planned to re-equip individual units using high-precision weapons. All leading organizations developing small arms are involved in the Ugolyok program. Thus, the Kalashnikov concern joined the ROC with two new modifications of its microwave oven.
Until now, the ROC "Ugolek" was at the stage of design work and factory tests. Earlier it was reported that state tests of all presented rifles would begin no earlier than the end of 2021. Accordingly, over the next year, the Ministry of Defense may choose the most successful samples for further improvement. Then, after all the necessary procedures, they will be adopted.
It is not known when and how the "Ugolyok" competition will end. It can be assumed that two microwave rifles chambered for different cartridges have a high chance of winning. So, the basic Chukavin rifle for domestic ammunition has already coped with state tests and fully confirmed its characteristics. This means that the process of developing and fine-tuning new modifications will be simplified to a certain extent and will lead to the desired results.
Weapons of the future
This year marks the 58th anniversary of the adoption of the SVD rifle with a standard PSO-1 sight. Despite its considerable age, this sniper complex remains the main one in its niche. SVD is distinguished by a successful design, created according to a far-sighted technical task. As a result, the rifle for a long time met the requirements of the army and other operators, and there was virtually no need for radical modernization.
Modification of the rifle for 7,62x51 mm
Nevertheless, the views on the use of sniper weapons are changing, and the requirements for them are being adjusted. By now, the SVD has ceased to meet all the wishes of the army, and besides, it cannot occupy several relevant niches. As a result, it became necessary to develop a new sample.
The main role of the SVD in the army is the weapon of an infantry sniper. To replace it, the ROC "Reaper" was launched in this capacity. The result of this work was a microwave product for a domestic 7,62-mm rifle cartridge. It has passed state tests and will enter service in the near future. However, it is obvious that the transition from SVD to microwave oven will be difficult and expensive, and will also take many years. Due to its quantity, the SVD will remain in the outfit of infantry snipers for a long time.
To solve other combat missions, ROC "Ugolyok" rifles are being developed. Due to the use of other cartridges and obtaining other combat characteristics, they are not a direct analogue or replacement of the SVD. On the contrary, they will have to supplement the Dragunov rifle or the weapon that replaces it. It is not known what samples will occupy this niche. Perhaps these will be new microwave modifications.
Next generation
At present, the Ministry of Defense, together with a wide range of industrial enterprises, are engaged in the development of military equipment for military personnel. New products for various purposes are being created, incl. promising small arms of different classes. Some of these developments have already gone through all the stages of testing and now have a chance to enter service.
Experienced rifle for .338 LM
One of the main directions is the creation of next generation sniper systems. The forces of all major enterprises have already developed a number of new sniper rifles, submitted to several competitions of the Ministry of Defense and other structures. One of these programs has come to its end by now, and the other will soon reach the most crucial stage. It is noteworthy that in both ROCs the newest microwave rifle in different versions found a place.
The Reaper program ends successfully. The microwave rifle chosen by the military chambered for 7,62x54 mm R has passed state tests with positive results, and now a decision on its adoption is expected. Two other variants of the Chukavin rifle can win the "Ugolyok" competition and go into service over the next few years.
It is possible that all three existing modifications of the microwave oven will be able to get into the troops, but so far it cannot be ruled out that other samples will win at Ugolok. However, regardless of the results of this competition, the new Kalashnikov rifle has already shown its strengths and in the foreseeable future will begin to enter the troops. And it is she who will now give a start to the long-awaited rearmament of snipers - with obvious positive consequences for the army.
- Ryabov Kirill
- Concern "Kalashnikov", Modernfirearms.net
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