India AK-203 ‘Sher’ Rifle in Amethi: India has reached a major point in local defence production with the successful making and test-firing of its first fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifle. The rifle is called ‘Sher’ and was made at the Korwa facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The rifle uses 100% Indian components and input materials, according to Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). Recent reports also confirmed that the first rifle has completed firing tests, including burst firing. The early results have been described as encouraging.
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First AK-203 made Fully with Indian Parts
IRRPL was created in 2019 as an India-Russia joint venture. Its main aim is to produce AK-203 rifles in India under the Make in India programme. The company has been working to slowly increase the Indian share in the rifle. The latest prototype is the first one where every component and input material has been sourced from Indian industry.
Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO and MD of IRRPL, shared the achievement and explained why it is different from earlier levels of localisation.
“A moment of immense pride for all of us at IRRPL. We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials,” Sharma said.
He also explained that the change is not limited to replacing a few imported parts.
“What makes this achievement truly special is that every single component and every input material going into this rifle has been sourced from Indian industry. This is not merely localisation of selected components; it is true, end-to-end ‘100% Genuine Indigenisation’ of the rifle. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action,” he said.
Army Trials Planned for September 2026
The rifle has already gone through firing checks. These tests also included burst firing. IRRPL is now preparing more fully indigenous prototypes for the next stage. The required rifles are planned to be handed over to the Indian Army for trials in September 2026. This means the first rifle has been made and test-fired, but the Army’s user trials are still ahead.
The AK-203 is a 7.62x39mm gas-operated assault rifle based on the Kalashnikov design. It has a stated firing rate of around 700 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 800 metres. The Indian Army is using the locally made AK-203 as a replacement for older INSAS rifles.
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Production Target of One Rifle Every 100 Seconds
IRRPL is also working to increase the speed of production at the Korwa facility. The company plans to reach a rate of one AK-203 ‘Sher’ rifle every 100 seconds.
“Very soon, IRRPL will be moving towards a production rate of one AK-203 (Sher) every 100 seconds.”
The company has said that better production methods, higher indigenous content and work with Indian manufacturing partners have helped move forward the delivery schedule for nearly six lakh rifles for the Indian Army by almost one year. The Korwa project is part of a Rs 5,200-crore programme to produce more than six lakh AK-203 rifles in India.
