Posted on 08/15/2007 2:31:21 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
A proposed contract between Russia and Venezuela that could transfer thousands of sniper rifles to Venezuela has raised concern in the United States about the potential use or regional distribution of the weapons by the socialist-inspired government of President Hugo Chávez.
The rifle in question is the latest variant of the Dragunov, a long-barreled, semi-automatic design with an optical sight. It is derived in part from the much more widely circulated Kalashnikov assault rifle.
First manufactured in 1963 for use by militaries and intelligence agencies in the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, the Dragunov and its clones have become one of the most lethal and effective weapons against American troops and their allies in Iraq.
Venezuela is negotiating a contract with Rosoboronexport, the Kremlin-controlled arms export agency, to purchase about 5,000 modernized Dragunov rifles, according to officials at Izhmash, the rifle's manufacturer. ...
Because sniper rifles are specialized infantry weapons and not typically issued to large numbers of soldiers, diplomats and military officers and analysts said, a purchase of several thousand Dragunovs would not seem to have a conventional military use for Venezuela's armed forces. ...Venezuela has long been accused of providing weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a large and heavily equipped Marxist group that the State Department classifies as a foreign terrorist organization. ...
Vladimir Farafoshin, a deputy director at Izhmash, said that the full order of 100,000 AK-103s had been delivered to Venezuela, and that Russia was negotiating the sale of "about 5,000" Dragunovs as part of a separate arms deal.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Waiting for the spin by the Putin-apogologists.
Maybe one of the lucky recipients will take aim for Chavez...
Gee, I sure hope that one of them doesn’t fall into the hands of a Hugo hater. Then on the other hand,.......
There’s such a thing on FR?!
Oh yes. Quite a few.
Russia selling to Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah ...
I’ll take my Parker Hale 1200 in 30-06 over the Dragunov any day. Turns out (NRA lab study) that so long a gas piston mechanism, even though interrupted in stroke like the M-1 carbine, degrades accuracy greatly.
Makes a nice souvenir, tho. Manufactured in high-tech nations like Romania and Iraq. Has that sexy sinister look about it. Many military careers ruined when somebody tried to smuggle one back.
Has an illuminated scope reticle. Big deal.
Russia: Arming America’s Enemies!
...since 1962
Except it doesn't use the Kalashnikov (7.62x39) round , instead it uses the more powerful 7.62x54R round from the Mosin-Nagant.
Yeah, Dragunovs have been left booby-trapped. There was also at least one instance where the barrel was deliberately drilled just in front of the receiver. When the rifle was fired the barrel exploded.
My biggest disappointment is that I can't purchase one of these for myself.
I have little doubt that if Russia didn't sell them these guns they would easily purchase them from a different source.
Or that you can't buy Imbel FAL receivers any more.
Perhaps the US should be looking into what they might sell to the friendly neighbors of Misters Putty and Chevy.
International arms dealers—those based in the US included— couldn’t care less who their customers are. I’m not seeing much more to this story than the chance to raise a propaganda-oriented stink at Russia’s expense. Is it really that much worse than selling the best we’ve got to Saudi Arabia?
That’s the kind of world we live in...wake up and get used to it.
the barrel was deliberately drilled just in front of the receiver..... sounds more like SOP for ruski manufacture.
Wouldn’t want to go up against a Barret 50 with one of these.
The M82A1 Barrett rifle cal. 50 BMG
It’s wreaked a hell of a lot of havoc on the bad guys.
Just pray they don’t get their hands on one.
The Dragunov is whoop-ti-doo next to the Barrett.
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