Russia has decided to ramp up the production of the 60-year-old Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD), sidelining its newer designs, including the promising Chukavin sniper rifle (SVCh). This move reflects the growing impact of international sanctions on Russia’s defense industry, as well as the ineffectiveness of modern Russian weaponry due to sanctions imposed by Western countries over the war against Ukraine.
The Kalashnikov Concern announced the delivery of all SVD rifles ordered this year and signed the first contracts for 2025. The company stated that production of SVD rifles would increase significantly, indicating a rising demand from the Russian military actively engaged in conflict.
In 2022, Kalashnikov Concern president Alan Lushnikov announced the completion of tests for the SVCh and the start of deliveries to replace the aging SVD. Despite this, there have been no signs of widespread deployment, with the older SVD still dominating the production lines.
Some SVCh rifles, in the standard 7.62x54R caliber, were tested in combat conditions by Russian special forces units operating in Ukraine and reportedly received positive feedback. However, recent announcements suggest that mass production and deployment of the SVCh are not expected anytime soon.
The decision to continue relying on the SVD instead of the more advanced SVCh may be attributed to a number of factors. Unresolved technical issues with the SVCh or its higher production costs could be contributing factors. However, a major challenge is the impact of international sanctions on Russia’s defense sector. Sanctions have significantly hindered the acquisition of advanced materials and components necessary for the production of new weapons. This has forced the Kremlin to rely on existing designs and manufacturing capabilities, limiting its ability to modernize its arsenal.
Moreover, the ongoing sanctions have not only affected the production of advanced weapons like the SVCh but have also disrupted the broader supply chain within the Russian defense industry. Establishing new production lines under these conditions has proven to be difficult, further complicating efforts to bring modern weaponry into service. The ineffectiveness of modern Russian weapons in the current conflict is a direct result of this sanctions pressure, as Western countries continue to restrict access to critical technologies and components.
In this context, the increased production of the SVD, a rifle designed more than half a century ago, underscores the extent to which sanctions are impacting Russia’s military capabilities. While the SVD remains a reliable weapon, it is far from cutting-edge, and the inability to mass-produce newer models like the SVCh reflects the broader struggle of the Russian defense industry to innovate under the pressure of international sanctions. This situation highlights the limitations of Russia’s military arsenal and its diminishing ability to field effective modern weaponry in the face of ongoing sanctions due to its aggression against Ukraine.
The sanctions imposed by democratic countries are effective, but not enough, so sanctions pressure on Russia should be increased to prevent it from waging war against Ukraine.
