AK-203 Assault Rifles

AK-203 assault rifles

#GS-03 Science and Technology

For Prelims

AK 203

  • The AK-203 is a Russian made gas-operated, magazine-fed, select fire assault rifle designed to chamber the 7.62×39mm cartridge.
  • The AK-203 was developed in the 2010s by Kalashnikov Concern in Russia and is one of the latest iterations of the AK series of assault rifles.
  • AK-203 rifles are fitted with integral Picatinny rails for an easy and convenient mounting of sights and other tactical accessories.
  • This will enable the effective use of weapons under various diverse conditions.
  • The Indian Army is procuring 670,000 AK-203 assault rifles to replace the existing INSAS, through a bilateral agreement with Russia.
  • The first 70,000 rifles were purchased from Russia and delivered to India in January 2022.
  • The remaining 600,000 rifles will be manufactured in Amethi, India under a transfer of technology agreement.
  • The manufacturing will be done through a joint venture company Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL).

Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited

  • The Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited was set up in 2019 to manufacture the rest of the rifles 600,000 at Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi district.
  • The Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi has produced the first batch of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles.
  • In future, the joint venture may increase production and modernise the facilities in order to manufacture advanced rifles based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle platform.

Rosoboronexport

  • Rosoboronexport is a Russian state-owned company, and it accounts for over 85 per cent of Russia’s exports of arms and other military equipment.
  • The company has worked together with Indian authorities for producing the licensed version of the multirole Su-30MKI fighter jets in India, and the modernisation and transfer of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier to the Indian Navy.

Source “India, Russia begin manufacturing of AK-203 assault rifles in U.P.’s Amethi

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