page_title: Dragunov sniper rifle
section_title: Users
hierarchical_section_title: Dragunov sniper rifle / Users
caption_attribution_description: English: US Marine Corps (USMC) Lance Corporal (LCPL) Jennifer L. Lowe, Combat Lithographer/Graphic Designer, Combat Camera, 1st Marine Division (MARDIV), sights a Dragunov SVDS sniper rifle which was captured during a Security and Stabilization Operation (SASO) conducted against Iraqi insurgents in Ar-Ramadi, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
context_page_description: The Dragunov sniper rifle is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR and developed in the Soviet Union.
  The Dragunov was designed as a squad support weapon since, according to Soviet and Soviet-derived military doctrines, the long-range engagement ability was lost to ordinary troops when submachine guns and assault rifles were adopted.
  It was developed in 1957–1963 and selected as the winner of a contest that included three competing groups of designers: led by Sergei Simonov, Aleksandr Konstantinov and Yevgeny Dragunov. Extensive field testing of the rifles conducted in a wide range of environmental conditions resulted in Dragunov's proposal being accepted into service on 3 July 1963. An initial pre-production batch consisting of 200 rifles was assembled for evaluation purposes, and from 1964 serial production was carried out by Izhmash, later called Kalashnikov Concern.
  Since then, the Dragunov has become the standard squad support weapon of several countries, including those of the former Warsaw Pact. China produced an unlicensed copy of the SVD through reverse-engineered samples captured during the Sino-Vietnamese War as the Type 79 and 85.
context_section_description:  Afghanistan: used by the Afghan National Army and Taliban
   Albania
   Austria
   Bangladesh: Uses Chinese Type 85 copy. Used by all of the branches of military & police.
   Belarus
   Bolivia: Type 79 variant in use.
   Burundi: Burundian special forces 
   Bulgaria
   Central African Republic: SVD and Type 85
   Chechen separatists
   China: Norinco-made copy of the SVD, known as the Type 79. Equipped with a 4× magnification optical sight which is a copy of the PSO-1. The rifle has a slightly shorter butt. Also produced a modified Type 85 and several other commercial copies of the SVD. An upgraded variant called the CS/LR19 was also debuted. Export variants such as the "NSG-85" were also produced.
   Czech Republic
   Egypt
   Ethiopia: Used by Ethiopian Peacekeepers in Darfur.
   Finland: Known as the 7.62 TKIV Dragunov, which stands for tarkkuuskivääri (sniper rifle).
   Georgia
   Hungary
   India: Used by "Designated Marksmen". Being phased out in favour of newer systems.
   Iran: Locally produced as the Nakhjir 3 Sniper Rifle.  A new upgraded version was unveiled during the Muhammad Rasulullah 4 exercises held on 12 December 2016.
   Iraq: Al Kadesiah, made based on SVD and PSL. Official Iraqi designation is either Al-Qadissiya or Al-Gadissiya. SVD and Kadesiah rifles has been used by both Saddam's and post-2003 Iraqi Army and by Iraqi insurgents. SVDs are also fielded by the Popular Mobilization Forces.
   Ivory Coast
   Islamic State: SVD and Type 79
   Kazakhstan
   Kurdistan Workers' Party
   Kyrgyzstan
   Latvia
   Lesotho
   Libya
   Lord Resistance Army
   Mali
   Moldova
   Mongolia
   Nicaragua
   Niger - Including Type 85s
   North Korea
   Panamá: Used by National Border Service (SENAFRONT), National Aeronaval Service (SENAN) and Institutional Protection Service (SPI).
   Philippines: Type 85 Chinese variant. Also batches of SVD rifle donated by Russia.
   Poland: Polish SVD modernization; known as SWD-M- and updated with a heavier barrel, variable magnification scope and detachable bipod. It's planned to replace SVD with Grot's marksman variant.
  Provisional Irish Republican Army: supplied from Libya
   Russia: SVD-M and folding-stock SVDS.
   Senegal: Used by Air Force and Army
   Serbia Special forces, model SVDK.
   Slovakia
   Sudan
   Suriname
   Syria
   Syrian National Coalition
   Tajikistan
   Turkey: Used by Gendarmerie General Command and Polis Özel Harekat.
   Turkmenistan
   Ukraine
   Uzbekistan
   Venezuela: Over 1000 rifles purchased by the Army of Venezuela in 2007.
   Vietnam - Used by the Vietnamese Army since the Vietnam War.
   Zimbabwe
caption: A U.S. Marine sights a Dragunov SVDS sniper rifle which was captured during the Iraq War.
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