New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) India’s indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, manufactured at the ordnance facility in Korwa in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district, is set to be delivered to the Indian Army soon, marking a significant milestone in the country’s push for greater self-reliance in defence production.
The rifle, being manufactured by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), has been given the name ‘Sher’ and is expected to strengthen the Army’s small-arms capabilities.
Speaking to IANS, Major General Sudhish Kumar Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IRRPL, said the production of the AK-203 in Amethi was a matter of considerable pride and that the company was working to ensure timely deliveries to the Army.
“The fact that this indigenous rifle is being manufactured in Munshiganj, Amethi, is a matter of great pride,” Sharma said, adding that the AK-203 ‘Sher’ was being produced with national security and the interests of the country in mind.
According to Sharma, the decision to manufacture AK-203 rifles in India was taken around 2019 by the Indian Army and the Ministry of Defence. Under the arrangement, the technology for manufacturing the rifle was to be transferred from Russia, followed by the signing of a contract for domestic production.
He said the Ministry of Defence had placed its confidence in IRRPL to deliver the rifles within the agreed timeframe. The company, he added, has planned its production schedule in a manner that would allow it to complete the contracted supply ahead of the stipulated deadline.
“Our plan is to manufacture the rifles at the required pace and hand them over to the Indian Army one year ahead of the contractual deadline of 2032,” Sharma said.
The Korwa facility is operated by IRRPL, a joint venture involving an Indian defence public sector undertaking and Russian entities Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport. The venture was established to manufacture more than 600,000 AK-203 assault rifles in India.
The domestic production of the AK-203 is part of India’s broader effort to expand indigenous defence manufacturing while reducing dependence on imported weapons and equipment.
–IANS
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