Russian Special Forces, commonly known as Spetsnaz, are among the most elite and versatile military units in the world. This highly effective unit is made up of individuals trained to operate in extreme environments and take on a variety of missions, ranging from counterterrorism to deep reconnaissance. Their diverse arsenal of weapons reflects this wide range of missions, offering reliability in tough terrain and specialized performance for covert operations. Unlike standard military groups, Spetsnaz units have historically been allowed a wider selection of weapons, giving them access to unique firearms developed specifically for stealth, mobility, and adaptability.
The weapons used by Spetsnaz are a testament to the evolution of the Russian military, which transitioned from old-school Soviet-era rifles to highly modern designs for today’s complex combat scenarios. Each firearm plays a specific role, whether it’s suppressed weapons for secret missions, compact guns for close quarters fighting, or precision rifles for long-range shooting. Exploring these weapons offers a fascinating look into how Russia equips its most skilled troops.
Here, 24/7 Wall St. looks at weapons used by Spetsnaz Special Forces, which offers more insight into the weapons used by elite forces — including weapons with ranges over 19,000 feet, which exceeds the height of many mountains. We reviewed a catalog of small arms from Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, and arms. We excluded overly similar guns and guns believed no longer in use by the Special Forces. We ranked the remaining guns by when they entered service. Supplemental data on the type of weapon, maximum effective range, and the caliber of ammunition used also came from Military Factory. This list includes a wide range of weapons from silenced assault rifles to automatic grenade launchers. Each weapon plays a role in Special Forces’ missions, such as quiet extractions or guerrilla warfare.
This post was updated on December 14, 2025 to provide an overview of the firearms used by Russian Special Forces (Spetsnaz) and an up to date Why section.
Why You Need to Know This
Understanding the firearms used by Russian Special Forces matters because these weapons provide insight into Russia’s military, including the country’s strategic priorities, battlefield capabilities, and the evolving nature of how they approach warfare. Spetsnaz units are among the most active and influential special operations forces in the world, and the weapons they rely on point to the missions they’re trained for. This includes everything from covert reconnaissance to urban combat. By learning about their weapons, readers gain a clearer picture of how these units operate, how they compare to other major forces globally, and how their equipment choices affect conflicts.
Here are the firearms used by Russian Special Forces (Spetsnaz):
37. Kalashnikov RPK-16
- Year entered service: 2018
- Type: Squad automatic weapon
- Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm
36. TekhMash 6G27 Balkan
- Year entered service: 2016
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 8,200 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 40mm caseless
35. Kalashnikov AK-12
- Year entered service: 2014
- Type: Assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 2,000 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm Soviet, 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x51mm NATO
34. KMZ A-545
- Year entered service: 2014
- Type: Assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,640 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm
33. KBP ADS
- Year entered service: 2013
- Type: Amphibious bullpup assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,650 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm, 5.45x39mm
32. ORSIS T-5000
- Year entered service: 2011
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO, .308 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, .408 Cheytac
31. RPG-32 (Hashim)
- Year entered service: 2008
- Type: Rocket-propelled grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 2,300 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 105mm rocket
30. MP-443 (Grach)
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- Year entered service: 2008
- Type: Semi-automatic pistol
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- Maximum effective range: 165 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum
29. Izhmash PP-19-01 (Vityaz-SN)
- Year entered service: 2008
- Type: Submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum
28. Heckler & Koch HK 417
- Year entered service: 2006
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Maximum effective range: 2,625 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x51mm NATO
27. KBP GM-94
- Year entered service: 2006
- Type: Pump-action grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 984 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 43mm
26. KBP PP-2000
- Year entered service: 2006
- Type: Submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 330 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x19mm parabellum
25. VKS / VSSK (BKC / Vykhlop)
- Year entered service: 2004
- Type: Anti-material rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 12.7x55mm STs-130
24. SA-24 (Grinch) / 9K338 Igla-S
- Year entered service: 2004
- Type: Shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile
- Maximum effective range: 19,680 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 72mm
23. Izhmash AK-9
![](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Izhmash-AK-9-1.jpg "User:Macaque123&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Macaque123","imgSrc":"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:AK-9_Assault_rifle.jpg"}"")
- Year entered service: 2004
- Type: Silenced assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x39mm subsonic
22. PKP Pecheneg (6P41)
- Year entered service: 2001
- Type: General purpose machine gun
- Maximum effective range: 5,000 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x54mmR
21. Heckler & Koch HK MP7
- Year entered service: 2001
- Type: Submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: HK 4.6x30mm
20. ASM-DT
- Year entered service: 2000
- Type: Amphibious assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm
19. KSVK 12.7 (ASVK)
- Year entered service: 1999
- Type: Anti-material rifle
- Maximum effective range: 4,920 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 12.7x108mm
18. Kalashnikov SV-99
- Year entered service: 1999
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 330 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.6mm (.22LR)
17. Izhmash SV-98
- Year entered service: 1998
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,968 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.6x54mm R, 7.62x51mm NATO
16. Accuracy International L115
- Year entered service: 1997
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 4,921 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: .338 Lapua Magnum
15. KBP OSV-96
- Year entered service: 1996
- Type: Anti-material rifle
- Maximum effective range: 6,560 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 12.7x108mm
14. Accuracy International AWM
- Year entered service: 1996
- Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 3,610 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: .300 Winchester Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum
13. PP-19 Bizon
- Year entered service: 1996
- Type: Submachine gun
- Maximum effective range: 328 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x18mm Makarov, 9x19mm parabellum
12. KBP AGS-30 AGL
- Year entered service: 1995
- Type: Automatic grenade launcher
- Maximum effective range: 7,544 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 30x29mm
11. Izhmash Saiga-12
![](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Izhmash-Saiga-12-1.jpg "User:SpetsnazAlpha&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"SpetsnazAlpha","imgSrc":"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Saiga_12_shotgun.jpg"}"")
- Year entered service: 1995
- Type: Semi-automatic combat shotgun
- Maximum effective range: 150 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 12-gauge
10. Izhmash AN-94 (Abakan)
- Year entered service: 1994
- Type: Assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,212 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 5.45x39mm
9. OTs-14 (Groza)
- Year entered service: 1994
- Type: Bullpup assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 656 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x39mm, 9x39mm
8. OTs-03 SVU
- Year entered service: 1994
- Type: Designated marksman rifle
- Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x54mmR
7. KBP VSK-94
- Year entered service: 1994
- Type: Silenced sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,312 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x39mm SP-5
6. KBP A-91
- Year entered service: 1991
- Type: Bullpup assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x39mm, 5.56x45mm NATO
5. AS Val (Avtomat Special’nyj)
- Year entered service: 1987
- Type: Silenced assault rifle
- Maximum effective range: 984 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x39mm SP-6
4. VSS Vintorez
- Year entered service: 1987
- Type: Silenced sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 1,312 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x39mm SP-5
3. Dragunov SVD
- Year entered service: 1963
- Type: Semi-automatic sniper rifle
- Maximum effective range: 4,265 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x54mmR Soviet, 9x54mm, 9.3x64mm Brenneke, .308 Winchester
2. Izhmash RPK
- Year entered service: 1961
- Type: Light machine gun
- Maximum effective range: 3,280 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 7.62x39mm M43 / 5.45x39mm M74
1. Makarov PM
![](https://247wallst.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Makarov-PM.jpg "User:Agazoo&action=edit&redlink=1","authorName":"Agazoo","imgSrc":"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Makarov_Pistol_Parkerized_and_Painted.jpg"}"")
- Year entered service: 1951
- Type: Semi-automatic pistol
- Maximum effective range: 164 ft.
- Caliber/ammunition: 9x18mm Makarov
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