After Decades Of Waiting, Indian Army’s Assault Rifle Woes To End As AK-203 Production Begins A Joint India-Russia Facility

Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between India and Russia, has begun producing Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles, said Russian military export agency Rosoboronexport in a statement.

According to Sergey Chemezov, general director of Rostec, "with the launch of series production of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles, high-quality, convenient and modern small arms will begin to enter service with India’s defense and law enforcement agencies."

Alexander Mikheev, director general of Rosoboronexport, added that the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, has produced the first batch of 7.62 mm Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles, with deliveries to the Indian Army expected soon.

Over the last two decades, the Indian Army had launched multiple attempts to procure rifles for its units but the efforts have ended in failure — at least the ones due to unrealistic requirements. 

The Made-in-India INSAS rifles have not performed well in service with the Indian Army, and the  72,400 ‘Patrol’ Sig Sauer assault rifles have not proven satisfactory either, leading to the cancellation of the plans to order another batch.

Thus, the induction of the AK-203 rifles will solve the Indian Army’s long-running rifle woes. The joint venture plans to ensure 100 per cent localization of the production of AK-203 rifles in India.

IRRPL will also be able to export AK-203 to other countries. 

The production of the rifles was delayed due to the price negotiations between New Delhi and Moscow, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.