Recently, the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), has started producing AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh.
Under an over ₹5,000 crore contract, over 6.1 lakh AK-203 assault rifles will be manufactured in India with technology transfer from Russia.
The Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited was set up in 2019 to produce the Russian-origin Kalashnikov assault rifles in Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi district.
AK203 is the advanced version of the Kalashnikov assault rifle family, the first of which was the AK-47.
The AK-203 assault rifles will replace the INSAS rifles that have been in service for over three decades.
The weapon fires 7.62×39 cartridges and weighs 3.8 kg without ammo.
The modern version of the Russian-origin rifle has an effective range of 300 metres or more than three football fields, is lightweight and robust.
About the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited –
The IRRPL was set up in 2019 jointly between erstwhile OFB [now Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL)] of India and Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov of Russia.
About the 'India-Russia Defence cooperation' –
As per a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India figures amongst the key arms importing destination globally.
India has for decades been Russia's largest arms importer, with Russian weapons accounting for nearly 70% of India's military arsenal.
The two nations have earlier collaborated to manufacture the BrahMos missiles, which are a key component of India's missile defence systems.
Furthermore, the defence trade between India and Russia has crossed $15 billion since 2018, in the backdrop of some big deals including the $5.43 billion S-400 long range air defence systems.