India-Russia joint venture delivers 35,000 AK-203 rifles to Indian Army

• A joint venture between India and Russia has delivered 35,000 AK-203 rifles to the Indian Army.
• The AK-203 rifles are being produced at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi.
• The project includes technology transfer and 100% localisation of the AK-203 production.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture (JV) between India and Russia, has announced the successful delivery of 35,000 AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Army.

The production of these rifles has been deployed in India in full compliance with the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan programmes. The project includes technology transfer and 100% localisation of the AK-203 production.

The Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited joint venture, co-founded by ROSOBORONEXPORT on the Russian side, has completed the first phase of the project to produce AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles in India.

To increase the degree of localisation, all necessary equipment has been shipped to the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, and production facilities are now fully equipped, emphasised Alexander Mikheev, Director General of ROSOBORONEXPORT.

This made it possible to produce and deliver a batch of 35,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles to the Indian Army within the timeframe agreed with the Ministry of Defence of India, he added.

The Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifle is a version of the AK-200 rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge used in the Indian Army. The weapon has the traditional advantages of Kalashnikov assault rifles, which are reliability and ease of maintenance.

The Indian government in 2021 had approved the plan to manufacture 5 lakh AK-203 rifles in UP's Amethi. The rifle is intended to replace the INSAS rifle that was inducted over three decades ago.

With inputs from ANI.

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