Bye Bye Kalashnikov, Ukraine Develops NATO Standard Sniper Rifles

Ukroboronprom has transferred 10 new NATO standard experimental sniper rifles to the national guard of Ukraine.

The new rifles are developed by ‘Ukroboroncervis’. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov transferred to the soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine, Ukroboronprom said in a statement Tuesday.

Snipers Training Centre of the military unit of the National Guard of Ukraine received the rifles.

"Today, domestic enterprises are providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine with heavy military weapons and equipment, as well as with a wide range of high-quality small arms" - said the NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, adding that the State Concern “Ukroboronservis has launched production of sniper rifles of different calibers."

Ukraine has upgraded this weapon in accordance with NATO standards. New sniper rifle was designed to use 7.62x54 mm cartridge, and has 730 mm barrel. Rate of fire is up to 20 shots per minute. Cartridges are fed from five- or ten-shot boxtype magazine. The initial firing rate is 870 m/s, and maximum range is 3 km and an approximate weight is 4.5 kg. The silencer reduces shot loudness to 26 decibels.

VM MP-UOS Sniper Rifle is equipped with optical sight and Harris SBR folding telescopic bipod. The modernization allowed to increase range of fire and to decrease recoil during fire. The sound of shot is diminished considerably due to the use of silencer therefore the rifle can be used stealthily.