In Russia, engineers are developing a lightweight sniper–assault rifle with an interchangeable caliber of 308 Winchester (7.62×51). The first prototypes are anticipated to be ready in February to March 2024, according to information cited by RIA News, referencing Vladislav Lobaev, the founder of the Lobaev Arms development company.
The new rifle is intended to supersede the Smersh and Counter systems. Lobaev noted that the primary distinctions between the upcoming rifle and those weapons lie in weight and overall dimensions. The firearm is planned to weigh around 3.6 kilograms. A defining feature will be the ability to mount interchangeable cylinders, enabling the weapon to function both as a machine gun and as a sniper rifle, depending on configuration and mission needs.
All components are projected to be manufactured by Lobaev Arms. The production line is expected to incorporate more reliable equipment, including gas-piston automatic mechanisms akin to those used in the HK 417 and FN designs.
According to Lobaev, the Russian rifle should carry a weight advantage of roughly a kilogram over comparable foreign models, while maintaining high spot-on accuracy under field conditions.
The first sample batches for testing and evaluation were planned for February to March 2024, as stated by the company founder.
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