Chukavin SVCh
| Fire rate | Semi-automatic rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 7.62 x 51 mm NATO |
| Magazine | 10 - 20 rounds |
| Length | 1015 mm (40.0 in) |
| Weight | 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) |
| Range | 1200 m (3937 ft) |
Description
The Chukavin sniper rifle (SVCh) was developed by Kalashnikov Concern to replace the SVD in the Russian Armed Forces. Designed by Andrey Yuryevich Chukavin in 2017, the weapon was developed on the basis of the SVK-2016 rifle. It was first presented at the Army-2017 military-technical forum, with state trials concluding in late 2021. Following recommendations for adoption, the Russian Ministry of Defence signed contracts for initial deliveries in late 2022. Kalashnikov Concern began mass production of the rifle in February 2023 and completed qualification trials in October 2023.
The rifle operates via a short-stroke gas piston and a rotating bolt with a three-position rotary gas regulator. Its design follows a "curtain scheme" concept derived from Yevgeny Dragunov’s late 1970s experimental MA prototype. Under this layout, the action and hammer-forged free-floating barrel are mounted to an inverted U-profiled metal upper receiver chassis that absorbs the mechanical stress of firing. This configuration allows the lower elements to be manufactured from lightweight polymer. The firearm features a telescopic and folding buttstock with an adjustable length of pull and cheek riser. Accessory integration is provided by a continuous Picatinny rail along the upper receiver, a lower handguard rail, and lateral hollow-slot attachment points. It is compatible with older SVD magazines as well as proprietary box magazines, and can be fielded with a variable-power day telescopic sight produced by the Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant.
First delivered to the Russian Armed Forces in September 2022, the rifle has been deployed on a limited scale during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March 2026, the Russian Interior Ministry officially adopted the weapon. Production was expanded through 2024 to fulfill military procurement contracts. Known variants include the SVCh-308 and the SVCh-8.6, the latter built with an enlarged upper receiver, a modified bolt group, and a specific muzzle brake to accommodate larger cartridges. A civilian-market variant, the MR1, is also produced with aluminum lower parts and handguards featuring M-LOK attachment slots.