"Kalashnikov" shipped a large batch of SIDS rifles under state contracts for 2026
"Kalashnikov" concern has shipped a large batch of 7.62mm Dragunov sniper rifles with folding butts (SVDS) under government contracts for 2026. According to the press service of the concern, the demand for these weapons remains consistently high: in 2025 alone, the company increased the production of SIDS by 13 times compared to 2024.
The SVDS is a modern adaptation of the classic Dragunov Sniper rifle (SVD), designed specifically for Airborne Troops, Marines, and special forces units. The need to create such a modification was dictated by the specifics of the landing: the length of the standard SVD is 1225 mm, it is not for nothing that the SVD is called an "oar" in the army for its dimensions. This created problems when skydiving, requiring a separate stowage of weapons.
Since 2022, SIDS has been in high demand in the area of a special military operation.
The main advantage of the new version compared to the legendary SVD is its compactness and modern materials. Wood was widely used in the classic army "paddle". In SIDS, all wooden parts of the bed have been replaced with impact-resistant polymer ones. The weapon is equipped with a framed metal stock that folds to the right along the receiver, reducing the overall length to 875 mm. The stock has a non-removable rotating cheek to enhance the convenience of aiming through the optics.
At the same time, the engineers managed to maintain the reliability of the mechanics: the SIDS is equipped with open mechanical sighting devices that allow firing at a range of more than 1000 meters without the use of optics. The rifle is designed to destroy enemy personnel and unarmored targets at distances up to 1300 meters and works with any type of 7.62mm cartridges, although the best accuracy results are achieved with sniper ammunition.
Russian military personnel performing combat missions in the SVO zone note the undeniable advantages of the upgraded rifle. According to snipers, in urban conditions or storming forest belts, the "paddle" often clung to equipment and doorways. The SVDS with a folding stock allows you to keep your weapon always at hand, even when you are moving inside the infantry fighting vehicle.
Fighters appreciate the SIDS for the ability to carry it concealed and instantly bring it into combat position after disembarkation, as well as for its lightness compared to the classic SIDS.
SIDS has also preserved the famous survivability of the Dragunov sniper rifle mechanism, which allows the weapon to work smoothly in mud, sand and at extreme temperatures. In addition, the semi-automatic firing mode combined with a high-quality barrel ensures a high density of fire at group targets where a bolt-action rifle simply will not have time to make a second shot.
In addition to the production of SVD rifles, "Kalashnikov" concern continues the systematic modernization of the small arms line. The legendary family of the gunsmith Dragunov is gradually being replaced by a new sniper system - the Chukavin semi-automatic rifle (microwave). However, it is precisely the time-tested Dragunov platform performed by the SVDS that today covers the main need for combat units in a reliable and massive self-loading sniper system.
Evgeny Kuzmichev
