Kalashnikov has delivered a large batch of 7.62mm Dragunov sniper rifles with folding stocks (SVDS).
This is in accordance with government contracts for 2026. The company's press office stated that demand for this weapon remains consistently high. In 2025 alone, the company increased its production of SVDS rifles thirteenfold compared to 2024.
The SVDS is a modernized version of the classic Dragunov SVD sniper rifle, specifically designed for airborne troops, marines, and special forces units. The specific requirements of airborne operations necessitated this modification. The SVD rifle is 1225 mm long, and it's no coincidence that the Russian military nicknamed it "the oar" due to its large dimensions. This posed problems during parachute jumps and required the weapon to be loaded separately.
Since 2022, the "SVDS" has been in increasing demand in the special military operation area.
The main advantage of the new version compared to the legendary SVD is its smaller size and use of modern materials. While wood was widely used in the classic military SVD, in the SVDS, all wooden parts of the rifle's frame have been replaced with impact-resistant polymers. The weapon is equipped with a metal frame stock that folds to the right, aligned with the barrel, reducing the overall length to 875 mm. The stock also features a rotating, non-detachable cheek rest for increased comfort when aiming through optical sights.
However, the engineers managed to maintain the mechanism's reliability, as the SVDS was equipped with open mechanical sights that allow firing at ranges exceeding 1,000 meters without the use of optical sights. The rifle was designed to engage enemy personnel and unarmored targets at ranges up to 1,300 meters and is compatible with all types of 7.62mm ammunition, although the best accuracy is achieved using sniper rounds.
Russian soldiers carrying out combat missions in the special operations zone point to the advantages of the upgraded rifle. Snipers say that the "paddle" rifle often got caught on equipment and doorways in urban environments or during assaults in wooded areas. The SVDS, with its folding stock, allows the weapon to be kept at hand at all times, even when moving inside an infantry fighting vehicle.
Fighters highly rate the SVDS for its ability to be carried discreetly and immediately put into combat mode after landing, as well as its lightness compared to the classic SVD.
The SVDS also retains the renowned durability of the Dragunov sniper rifle's mechanism, allowing the weapon to operate continuously in mud, sand, and extreme temperatures. Furthermore, its semi-automatic firing mode, combined with the high-quality barrel, provides superior firepower against groups of targets, as a bolt-action rifle cannot fire a second shot in time.
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