The Snayperskaya Vintovka Ukorochennaya (Sniper Rifle, Shortened; SVUmk2 in-game) is a shortened variant of the Dragunov SVD with a bull-pup design. It was developed in the 1970s by the TsKIB SOO (Central Design Bureau of Sporting and Hunting Weapons) in Tula, Russia, as a compact sniper rifle for para troopers, but the production did not start till 1994. Though originally SVU was meant to replace the Dragunov, the design and performance was far different from the SVD and so it became a different weapon rather than a successor. It appears in all S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games and is less accurate than the SVD in long ranges but lighter and more compact compared to it. It uses 7.62x54mm ammunition.
The SVU is held by the snipers of the Freedom faction and some Monolith snipers along the pathways in the Red Forest. Member of Freedom faction Max uses this weapon.
Acquiring the weapon
It is sold by Skinflint when the player attains a friendly reputation with Freedom, it wil cost 75.000 Roubles. The weapon could be sold by barkeep also later in the game but the chance is very low.
Clear Sky
Characteristics
The player can sprint while this weapon is held due to its compact nature, but it is less effective at long range compared to the SVD due to the weapon's short barrel. However, it still has more range than any assault rifle. The SVU and can be upgraded for superior accuracy, reduced weight, and reduced recoil, making it perfect for those demanding a highly accurate and lightweight high-powered sniper rifle. However, despite all the upgrades it is still not as accurate or as powerful as a Dragunov SVD, but not as heavy either. Like the SVD, it is only compatible with 7.62x54mm 7N1 rounds and 7.62x54mm 7N14 rounds.
Notable deployments
The SVU is employed by some of Freedom's veteran snipers, notably in Kostyan's group. Chekhov also uses an SVU.
Upgrades
The weapon can be upgraded only by Yar, he will require all 3 upgrade USB schematics.
Call of Pripyat
Nimble sells an SVU that previously belonged to Max, which is lighter, has less recoil, and more accurate than the stock model. Rogue carries an SVU as well. Overall the SVU is extremely rare, as both Freedom and Monolith members prefer the full-size SVD. The rifle can be upgraded to have similar stats to a full-size SVD, but it can not be modified to have the nearly-essential target identification upgrade. On the other hand, it can be upgraded to make use of an integral silencer which muffles any sound, without the drop-off of 9x39mm rifles.
It can be found under a bridge in Yanov, near the train with the moving anomaly.
Notes
SVU has 10 or 20-round magazines, in-game SVUmk2 has 10-round magazines only.
The barrel attachment at the end of the SVU is not a silencer but an equalizer. An equalizer reduces the fluctuations of the barrel.
Textures of the weapon are called "svu-a" (it is correct for all S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games). SVU-A (Sniper Rifle, Shortened - Automatic; selective-fire version of the SVU, capable of semi-automatic or fully-automatic fire) description could be found in game files. But it was never included in any game (just like some unique weapons, transport, and some creatures).
