Indo-Russian venture delivered 35,000 assault rifles to MoD
Context:
Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture between India and Russia, delivered 35,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Ministry of Defence.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Defence technology)
Key highlights:
- India is steadily increasing the domestic production of AK-203 rifles, targeting 70% local content within two years.
- Presently, about 25% of the rifle’s components are produced locally. Full-scale production with complete localisation (100%) is anticipated to be achieved within 2-3 years. The Indian Army is replacing the INSAS (Indian National Small Arms System) rifles with more advanced weaponry.
- Production Phase Completion: The first phase of the project, which involved producing AK-203 rifles in India, has been completed. The necessary equipment has been shipped and installed at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
- Localisation Efforts: To increase the degree of localisation, the production facilities in Amethi are now fully equipped, allowing for increased local production.
- Contract Details: Under a contract worth over ₹5,000 crore signed in July 2021, more than 6.1 lakh AK-203 assault rifles will be manufactured in India with technology transfer from Russia. The first 70,000 rifles will gradually increase localisation from 5% to 70%, with the remaining rifles produced with 100% localisation.
- Prime Minister’s Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia on July 8 and 9 for the 22nd annual summit, coinciding with the announcement of the rifle delivery.
- Inspection and Deployment: The initial lot of rifles has been handed over to various Army units, with subsequent batches undergoing inspection before distribution.
