Overview

• IRRPL will deliver 7,000 additional AK-203 rifles to the Indian Army in the next two to three weeks, lifting total deliveries to about 55,000.
• The joint venture has reached 50 percent indigenisation of components and plans to increase local content to 70 percent by October and 100 percent by December 31, 2025.
• Under a ₹5,200 crore contract signed in July 2021 for 601,427 rifles, IRRPL is on track to complete supply by mid-2030—22 months ahead of the original deadline.
• Known locally as the ‘Sher’, the AK-203 replaces the decades-old INSAS rifle, fires 700 rounds per minute, has an effective range of 800 metres and weighs about 3.8kg.
• The Amethi facility, owned by an Indo-Russian joint venture, is fielding export inquiries from Southeast Asian and African nations as it scales up production.