The widespread use of drones in the Ukraine conflict has dramatically changed battlefield tactics, pushing sniper rifles into a much smaller role. According to medical statistics, the number of wounds caused by sniper fire along the front line has fallen 6.5-fold compared with 2022.

By late 2023, shrapnel injuries from attacks involving various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had become the dominant category of combat wounds, far outnumbering other types of injuries.

Drones offer a major advantage over conventional sniper weapons: they can strike targets at considerably greater distances. FPV drone operators also do not need a direct line of sight to their targets, unlike snipers, who must maintain visual contact with the enemy.

Yet the growing dominance of unmanned systems does not mean sniper rifles are destined to disappear from modern warfare. Numerous conflicts around the world still involve relatively limited drone deployment, with fighting conducted largely through conventional methods.

Tanks and conventional artillery have faced similar predictions of obsolescence in the past. Despite repeated claims that these weapons would lose their battlefield relevance, both remain in active use.

Meanwhile, Russian defense manufacturers are continuing to develop new sniper weapons. High Precision Systems, a holding company within the state-owned Rostec corporation, has developed two new carbines: the MTs 572 Vysota, chambered for 12.7×108 mm ammunition and designed for aimed fire at distances of up to 1,800 meters, and the MTs 574, chambered in 8.6×70 mm with an effective aimed range of up to 1,200 meters.

Both weapons feature a barrel-block design that combines the barrel and receiver into a rigid assembly. This configuration reduces vibrations during firing, helping improve shot grouping and overall accuracy.

Despite continued advances in precision small arms, unmanned systems are steadily gaining importance on the battlefield. Developers are also exploring ways to combine drone technology with traditional sniper weapons, suggesting that the two systems may increasingly be used together rather than compete for the same role.