AK-203 assault rifles

#GS-03 Science and Technology

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).

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 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.

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