AK-203 rifles: India is moving fast towards making its own AK-203 assault rifles at the factory in Korwa, Amethi. The rifles are being made by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint company formed by Indian and Russian partners. Right now, about 50% of the rifle parts and processes are already coming from Indian sources. The company’s top official, Major General SK Sharma, said that they are working hard to make the rifle fully Indian-made by the end of 2025.
According to Business Standard, He also shared that, “If you ask a soldier, then his most reliable friend is an assault rifle… AK-203 will be the most reliable thing in the future.”
This rifle, which has been named “Sher” in India, is an updated version of the famous Kalashnikov series. It is lighter than the old INSAS rifle that soldiers used before. While INSAS weighs 4.15 kg, the new AK-203 weighs only 3.8 kg. It has been specially made for use in difficult areas like the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control. The army believes it will help a lot in counterinsurgency and anti-terrorist missions. The design makes it easier for soldiers to carry and use the gun, even in rough conditions.
Akash Prime Missile Hits Target Twice During 15,000 ft Trial in Ladakh
Faster Production
The Indian armed forces are set to get 70,000 rifles by the end of this year. Out of these, 48,000 have already been given. Another 7,000 will be ready in just a few weeks, and 15,000 more are expected by December 2025. This fast production is part of a big contract worth ₹5,200 crore. The agreement says IRRPL has to supply 601,427 rifles by October 2032. But the company is now planning to finish this work much earlier by December 2030, which is almost two years before the deadline.
IRRPL is slowly increasing how many rifles it can make every month. Starting in 2026, they will be making 12,000 rifles each month. The factory aims to build 150,000 rifles every year after all parts become local. Their big goal is to make 600 rifles each day. That means they will finish one rifle every 100 seconds. This shows how quickly and efficiently they are working.
Factory in Amethi
IRRPL was created in 2019 through a deal between the Indian and Russian governments. It is a team effort between Russian companies Rosoboronexport and Concern Kalashnikov, and Indian public-sector companies AWEIL and MIL. Indian Army officers are leading the company, and the factory is built on an 8.5-acre area in Amethi. Major General Sharma, who is the CEO and MD, said that this project is like the “younger brother of BrahMos,” showing how important it is for India.
CDS Chauhan Pushes for Indigenous Drones, Warns Against Foreign Tech Dependence
Each rifle goes through a long process before it is ready. There are 120 different steps to make just one rifle. The AK-203 has around 50 main parts and 180 smaller parts. It can last through firing 15,000 bullets in its lifetime. So far, 60 of the important parts have already been made in India. These are collected from local suppliers and then put together at the Amethi plant. The team is putting in a lot of effort to reach the target of full indigenisation, which means everything from small parts to big ones will be made in India by Indian workers.
