India Advances Defense Self-Reliance with Local AK-203 Assault Rifle Production
India is making significant strides in its defense sector self-reliance through the local production of the AK-203 Sher assault rifle, an advanced version of Russia’s Kalashnikov. The first 100% locally component-sourced AK-203 assault rifle has been successfully test-fired at the Korwa manufacturing facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Indo-Russian Rifles, a joint venture established in 2019, is preparing to submit the rifle to the Indian Army for trials this month. Deliveries of these indigenous rifles are slated to begin by April 2027, with a goal to supply over 600,000 rifles to the military by December 2030. The joint venture aims to produce one rifle every 100 seconds at peak capacity. This initiative is part of India's 'Make in India' program, designed to reduce its reliance on imported weapons, particularly from Russia, which is currently prioritizing its own defense needs due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The AK-203 is also noted to be at least 25% cheaper than imported versions and could be a...
