India to Roll Out Fully Indigenous AK-203s by End of 2025

New Delhi: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) will start producing 100 per cent indigenised AK-203 assault rifles from December 2025, which will be rechristened as "Sher” (lion).

The 7.62 X 39 mm calibre Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles will replace in-service INSAS rifles, which were inducted over three decades back. AK-203 assault rifles, with an effective range of 300 meters, are lightweight, robust and easy-to-use modern assault rifles with proven technology that will enhance the combat potential of soldiers to adequately meet present and envisaged operational challenges.

Till now 50 per cent indigenisation has been achieved, which will go up to 70 per cent by October 2025.

IRRPL has got a contract from the defence ministry to manufacture 6-lakh AK-203 assault rifles worth `5,124 crores for the Indian armed forces under transfer of technology from Russia.

The joint venture produced the first AK-203 in August 2023 and delivered 35,000 rifles in 2024. As per the plan, there will be a gradual increase in indigenisation of the assault rifles in five stages. The first 35,000 guns had only 5 per cent indigenised content. Beyond 70,001 lots, there will be 100 per cent indigenisation of the rifles.

IRRPL is confident that it will be able to deliver 6 lakhs AK-203 by December 2030, which will be 22 months earlier than the October 2032 deadline set in the contract. The company plans to produce 12,000 rifles per month and 1.5 lakh per year at the later stages.

Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is a joint venture between India (50.5 per cent stake) and Russia (49.5 per cent stake).

It has been created with the erstwhile OFB, now Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL) of India and Russia's Rosoboronexport (RoE) and Kalashnikov Concern.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the AK-203 rifle manufacturing unit in Amethi in March 2019. The AK-203 weapon has the traditional advantages of Kalashnikov assault rifles in terms of reliability and ease of maintenance.

The AK-203s are manufactured in India in compliance with exclusive Russian technologies on certified equipment.

In a separate development, the defence ministry denied reports that India is planning to build a long-range bomber (12,000 km) that could hit New York and strike across continents without needing to refuel. "No such proposal has ever been discussed at DRDO," said the defence ministry.