Russia delivers 70,000 AK-203 assault rifles to India

Russia delivered all the contracted 70,000 AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles to the Indian Armed Forces on 25 January 2022. The Indian Armed Forces had placed an order for 670,000 rifles, for which the contract was signed on 6 December 2021 between India and Kalashnikov (Russian defense manufacturing unit). The total cost of the contract is around Rs 5,124 crore. The contract included procuring 70,000 rifles off the shelf.

The remaining 600,000 rifles will be manufactured by an Indo-Russian joint venture company, Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), based at Amethi, Uttar Pradesh India under transfer of technology (ToT). [at Korwa Rifle Factory, Amethi]. The lightweight AK-203 Rifles will replace military’s in-service INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) Rifle.