Indian Army receives 27,000 locally manufactured AK-203 assault rifles
The delivery follows six months after the initial testing of the AK-203 rifles, which are being produced at IRRPL’s facility in Korwa, Amethi
The Indian Army has recently received a significant addition to its weaponry with the arrival of nearly 27,000 AK-203 assault rifles. It is anticipated that another 8,000 units will join the ranks in the next two weeks.
Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is handling the delivery. This joint venture between India’s Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (formerly known as Ordnance Factory Board) and Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern marks a significant step in the two countries’ defense relations. Kalashnikov Concern is the original creator of the renowned AK-47 rifles.
The delivery follows six months after the initial testing of the AK-203 rifles, which are being produced at IRRPL’s facility in Korwa, Amethi. This is part of a larger agreement signed in 2020, where India agreed to procure over 770,000 AK-203 rifles for a sum of Rs 5,000 crore. While over 100,000 rifles will be imported from Russia, the majority—approximately 670,000—will be manufactured domestically in Korwa.
Cost and Production Details of AK-203 assault rifles
The cost per rifle is estimated at around $1,100, which includes expenses related to technology transfer and the establishment of the production unit. As of January last year, the Korwa factory commenced mass production of these rifles.
The AK-203 is a versatile assault rifle, operating on gas, equipped with a magazine, and capable of selective firing. It uses 7.62x39mm caliber ammunition, enhancing the Indian Army’s capabilities alongside the 72,400 Sig Sauer rifles from the US. These new rifles are set to replace the indigenous INSAS rifles, which have underperformed.
Future Plans for Localization
The joint venture aims for complete localization of AK-203 rifle production in India. Currently, the indigenization level stands at about 25%, with plans to increase it to 70% over the next two years for the initial batch of 70,000 rifles. Subsequently, the rest of the rifles will be produced with 100% local components.
The project has faced delays due to pricing disputes and interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, India also placed an order for 70,000 AK-103 rifles to be directly imported to address immediate needs.
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