MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Russia’s TsNIITochMash defense contractor (part of the state hi-tech corporation Rostec) is developing a new semi-automatic sniper rifle codenamed Ugolyok and chambered for .308 and .338 Lapua Magnum rounds, TsNIITochMash CEO Albert Bakov told Izvestia daily on Thursday.

"Work is underway on the Ugolyok project. It relates to developing sniper systems for the Defense Ministry - two semi-automatic sniper rifles. We are developing rifles for the .308 and .338 Lapua Magnum rounds," Bakov said.

TsNIITochMash earlier carried out similar experimental design work for special services but the requirements set by the Defense Ministry are tighter, he pointed out.

"They [the special services] employ a somewhat different approach towards complete sets than the Defense Ministry, which has set tight conditions for us: no imported components," the TsNIITochMash chief executive explained.

The Ugolyok is being developed not as a replacement for the Dragunov sniper rifle, he emphasized.

"One can spend several billions [billions of rubles] [on developing a weapon] for the distances, to which the Dragunov sniper rifle operates, and achieve nothing. The Dragunov has been brought to its perfection," the chief executive said, adding, however, that ‘in some cases, rifles operational at larger distances are needed."

Now the basic task for developers is to create new rounds, he said.

The first models are ready and are undergoing trials and they are being finalized based on the comments that have been made. The rounds are an integral part of the sniper system that includes the rifle and the detachable equipment, the TsNIITochMash chief executive said.