The SKS is a self loading rifle of Soviet origin. It was developed during the later stages of World War 2 as a much lighter and more compact alternative to the Mosin-Nagant and SVT-40 rifles. Eventually it got replaced by the AK-47, which was designed at the same time. However, millions were produced and the SKS has been a very common weapon in all nations using Soviet small arms.

The SKS combines design features from the AVS-36 and SVT-40 self-loading rifles. The SKS has a conventional carbine layout. Externally it looks like a shortened SVT-40 rifle. The stock and furniture are made out of wood. It uses a short stroke gas piston and a tilting bolt. The SKS is fitted with a folding blade or spike bayonet.

The SKS is a semi-automatic rifle. It fires the intermediate power 7.62x39mm round from a fixed 10 round magazine. It is reloaded using 10 round stripper clips. The SKS is not able to launch rifle grenades, but the Yugoslav M59/66 is modified to fire NATO standard rifle grenades. The Chinese Type 63 is a modified version that is select-fire and uses detachable box magazines.

The first user of the SKS was the USSR. When it became apparent that in practice the AK-47 was a more potent weapon and could be produced at lower costs the SKS was no longer produced. The main user of the SKS and the Type 63 rifle was China. Many SKS rifles were exported or produced in states with ties to the USSR. Most SKS are obsolete or relegated to second line units. In many armies the AK-47 replaced the SKS.