The Unique Story of an Iraqi Designated DMR

Talyn · 2025-07-20T19:53:31-0500

The Tabuk: A Kalashnikov-Based Designated Marksman Rifle

Most people think of sniper/DMR type rifles fielded by insurgents in Iraq, during this time period, rifles like the Soviet SVD, Romanian PSL, and domestic Iraqi Al Kadesih come to mind. While these 7.62x54mmR models were certainly prolific, there was another designated marksman rifle encountered, the Tabuk.

The Tabuk is a long-barreled Kalashnikov DMR variant of the Yugoslav M72 RPK produced at the Al-Qadissiya Establishments. Little known in the US, what makes this particular weapon interesting is the fact that it’s a 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov-based DMR produced in Iraq.