The creator of the microwave, Andrey Chukavin, talks about the fight against drones, modernization based on his experience and an assault version of his weapon.
The combat experience of recent years has significantly influenced the development of small arms. Designers have to take into account new threats, and the military has to look for new uses for familiar models. These changes also affected the microwave rifle, which is now actively used in the special operation zone. Andrey Chukavin, the creator of the weapon, the lead design engineer of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, told Izvestia about its modernization, the fight against drones and the possibility of an assault version.
"The microwave is more accurate than its predecessor"
— Andrey Yuryevich, there is a stereotype that your microwave sniper rifle, which entered the army in 2024, was created as a replacement for the famous SVD. Is this really the case?
— The Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD), in my opinion, is a masterpiece. Evgeny Fedorovich managed to create a weapon that has been used in the army for more than 60 years, and it is still not outdated. SVD lives and will live. It is cheap, reliable and performs its functions perfectly. In the early 1990s, the rifle underwent a minor upgrade — the plywood butt and forearm were replaced with plastic ones, which increased their strength and durability. At the same time, the plant was tasked with making its amphibious version. And in 1995, the SIDS rifle, a sniper rifle with a folding stock, was adopted. Now it is more in demand than other variants of the SVD.
SVD rifle shop at the presentation of the latest precision guided ammunition and sniper rifles from the Kalashnikov concern
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
— Is the microwave superior to its predecessor?
— The improvement in accuracy compared to the SVD was laid down by the terms of reference. The cartridges remained the same, and accuracy is largely determined by their characteristics. But despite this, this parameter has been improved by about 30%. The microwave is more accurate and more accurate than its predecessor. The range of fire and armor penetration remained the same as that of the SVD — they also largely depend on the characteristics of the cartridge.
— What other tasks did you have to solve while working on the microwave?
— One of the main requirements of the customer for the rifle is the possibility of installing a modern optical sight, and they are all mounted on the upper surface of the receiver in such a way that when servicing the rifle (disassembly, assembly, cleaning and lubrication), the sight does not need to be disconnected and then put back. This operation does not ensure the stability and uniformity of the sight attachment, which reduces the accuracy of the weapon, and the rifle's aiming should be checked again. In combat conditions, this is a serious inconvenience. As a result, the microwave received an upper base with an elongated Picatinny rail. Now the sight and other shooting devices, such as the night nozzle, are fixed once, and there is no need to double-check the accuracy.
Microwave rifle at the presentation of the latest high-precision guided ammunition and sniper rifles manufactured by the Kalashnikov Concern
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
— It is believed that the ergonomics of the microwave is better than that of the SVD.
— Yes, that's right. Making it like this was one of the goals in the development of the rifle. The rifle received a folding telescopic stock with adjustable length and also the position of the cheek and the shock-absorbing nape in height. That is, the sniper can adjust the weapon specifically for himself. The microwave has detachable folding bipods. They are height-adjustable and are not rigidly connected to the barrel, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting from different positions.
There were no bipods on the SVD, but the microwaves are included in the standard package. Weapons are supplied to the troops with them. The barrel is thickened when compared with the SVD rifle. A low—noise shooting device has also appeared - it extinguishes flames and sparks when fired, and also significantly muffles the sound. This increases the sniper's stealth, making it impossible to accurately determine the location of his firing position.
Sniper Shooting Instructor with MICROWAVE Rifle
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
— The microwave grew out of a carbine with a shorter barrel. Are you developing an assault rifle for the army?
— We are ready to make a microwave assault rifle with a short barrel, if our customers, the Russian Ministry of Defense or other law enforcement agencies, need it. We understand that such weapons can be useful for conducting contact battles in cramped conditions. If we are given such a task, we will solve it.
"In terms of reliability, the microwave is not inferior to the SVD and Kalashnikov assault rifle"
— During the war, sniper rifles began to be used to fight drones. Did this come as a surprise to you?
— No, the situation on the battlefield has changed, weapons have found a new use. There is no big difference in shooting at objects moving vertically or horizontally. Of course, a lot depends on the goal. The easiest way to hit a tiny copter is with a shotgun when it gets close enough. If you need to destroy a large target at a long distance, you can't work with a machine gun, but a sniper rifle can handle it. We are talking about the same aircraft-type drones flying at an altitude of more than 300 m. But a lot depends on the art of the shooter.
Therefore, it is easier and more efficient to put a machine gun on a special tripod. There are a lot of them being made in workshops not far from the front. Such a decision is justified — a well-trained shooter is needed to hit a target with a rifle, and a fighter without special rifle training can do this with a machine gun.
A sniper shooting instructor with a scope and an SVD rifle at the presentation of the latest high-precision guided ammunition and sniper rifles from the Kalashnikov concern
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
— In which departments do they use SVD and microwave?
— The SVD rifle in the Soviet army was part of every rifle squad, such tactics were not developed from scratch, and therefore now, I think, there are no special changes. For example, there is an assault group, there is a sniper who covers them. And this is an important role — he must destroy particularly important goals, ensure progress.
— Is it difficult to change the SVD to a microwave, do I have to get used to it?
— There is no problem here. A more or less experienced person can easily switch from one rifle to another. And sniper scopes are generally all the same in their principle of operation.
— Is the Kalashnikov Concern currently supplying some of the assault rifles to the army in protective camouflage? Will the microwave be painted?
— If necessary, it will not be a problem to make such a coating of the rifle. Moreover, the technology has already been tested on the machine.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Morozov
Image source: iz.ru
— Have you talked to the fighters on your own, what do they say about your weapons?
— We have a service group that travels to the area of the SVO to repair weapons on the ground. The company's specialists collect comments and suggestions and receive feedback. In addition, military personnel participating in the battles write to us. All this, of course, is being analyzed. Whenever possible, we carry out the necessary improvements.
— Were you sure that your rifle would not fail in battle?
— In terms of reliability, the microwave is not inferior to the SVD and the Kalashnikov assault rifle. During the state tests, the rifle was subjected to exactly the same tests, including, for example, falls from a height of 1.5 m on a concrete floor. Not every weapon can withstand it, but our rifles did.
— Did you refine the microwave after studying the combat experience of your military?
— Several design changes have been made. The butt was slightly modified, making its design tougher. We also made changes to the gas regulator of the rifle to make disassembly and assembly of the assembly easier and more intuitive. We are working on a special coating of the main parts, which can prevent corrosion at high humidity and simplify the care of the rifle.
SV-98 rifle at the presentation of the latest precision guided ammunition and sniper rifles manufactured by Kalashnikov Concern
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Andrey Erstrem
— Is it possible to expect an expansion of the set of additional equipment that comes with the rifle?
— Let's see if we need another bipod or the possibility of mounting on a tripod for shooting at aerial targets. We are also working on a new low-noise firing device of the "gas-loaded" type. Improving a rifle is an ongoing process. In the end, snipers will decide everything, they will use our weapons.
— What other rifles are supplied to the troops operating in the SVO zone?
— SV-98 sniper rifle. Its accuracy is much higher than that of SVD or microwave. This is not surprising — this is a classic rifle with manual reloading. It is clear that such rifles, by definition, are much more accurate than self—loading rifles - this is a design feature that uses a longitudinally sliding bolt and a freely hung thickened barrel with a length of 650 mm. The trigger mechanism with a warning allows you to adjust the stroke of the trigger and the release force. The rifle is equipped with a folding stock with all the necessary adjustments. Due to the increased mass, the SV-98 has reduced recoil and is more comfortable when firing.
It turned out to be very successful and performs its function perfectly, as well as other products of our Kalashnikov concern.
Bogdan Stepovoy
