Make in India, Amethi-made AK-203 rifles: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is set to complete the delivery of all 6.01 lakh rifles nearly 22 months ahead of schedule. According to PTI, under a Rs 5,200 crore contract, the company mandated to supply 6,01,427 rifles to the armed forces by October 2032. However, the company plans to finish the deliveries by December 2030.
Recently, Maj Gen SK Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL said that the company delivered around 48,000 rifles so far. He added that IRRPL will handed over another 7000 in the next 2-3 weeks and 15,000 additional by December this year, reports PTI.
What are the AK-203 rifles?
The AK-203 is a modernised version of the Kalashnikov series. It will become the primary assault rifle for soldiers deployed along the northern and western borders, including the Line of Control (LOC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC). According to the report, each rifle undergoes 120 processes and comprises around 50 components and 180 sub-parts. The weapon has a life of 15,000 rounds.
“Every material now has an alternate source in India,” Sharma said, adding that quality control at the plant is being developed into one of the best in the country, reports PTI.
AK-203 rifles to replace INSAS
The AK-203 rifles aims to replace the INSAS in service. Initially, 70,000 rifles were imported to meet urgent requirements before full-scale production. However, now IRRPL has planned to ramp up the production up to 1.5 lakh rifles annually.
About IRRPL
IRRPL is located in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi. It operates from an 8.5-acre facility and employs over 260 personnel, including permanent Russian experts. It was incorporated in 2019 under an inter-governmental agreement to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces. It brings together Russian partners Rosoboronexport and Concern Kalashnikov with Indian shareholders Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL).
(With inputs from PTI)
