Designated Marksman Rifle: The training of Ukrainian marksmen with telescopic sights

Marksmen equipped with telescopic sight rifles have the task to precisely engage targets at ranges of up to 800 m and thus complement infantry units. At EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine, multinational instructors prepare Ukrainian servicemen and women for this very task in order to increase the striking power of the Ukrainian armed forces.

Eliminating threats preferably at long ranges and before they get within close range is one objective of marksmen equipped with telescopic sight rifles – referred to as Designated Marksman Rifles (DMR) in military jargon. The challenge: precision and accuracy. At longer ranges, minor errors have greater consequences. Good marksmen must master the tools of the trade to accurately engage targets at ranges of several hundred meters. Even the slightest deviation might cause the rifle operator to miss the target.

Wind and wind direction play an equally critical role as they influence the trajectory of the projectile. Crosswind may deflect the projectile. Headwind slows it down, while tail wind makes it gain speed, resulting in shorts and overs. The instructors teach the Ukrainian infantrymen how to use the telescopic sight depending on the wind direction and wind speed and adapt their firing technique accordingly.

About the training mission: EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine is part of the support package for Ukraine for its fight against the Russian aggression. The task is to train Ukrainian armed forces to strengthen the country’s defence capability and sustainability. EUMAM UAEuropean Union Military Assistance Mission Ukraine was decided by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 17 October 2022. It is the first training mission on European soil. The 24 European participating nations are planning to provide initial and follow-on training for approximately 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of 2024.