Latest news with #Indo-RussianRiflesPrivateLimited
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amethi to deliver 7k AK-203 rifles to Army in 2-3 weeks
Ayodhya: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture company which manufactures AK-203 assault rifles in Amethi, is set to deliver the next batch of Kalashnikov AK-203 rifles to the Indian Army in the next 2-3 weeks. The company, mandated under a Rs 5,200 crore contract to supply 6,01,427 rifles to the armed forces by Oct 2032, plans to finish deliveries by Dec 2030, Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO and MD of IRRPL, told reporters during an interaction at the factory. "Around 48,000 rifles have been delivered so far. Another 7,000 will be handed over in the next 2-3 weeks and 15,000 additional by Dec this year," Maj Gen Sharma said. IRRPL is adhering to the timeline and aims to achieve 100% indigenization by the end of this year. The AK-203 is a modern version of the Kalashnikov series, he said. The Army is replacing the decades-old INSAS rifles with the AK-203, a Russian-origin assault rifle. India signed a contract worth Rs 5,000 crore with Russia in July 2021 to produce over 6,00,000 AK-203 rifles domestically, with technology transfer from Russia. According to a statement issued by IRRPL, the gun is ideal for counter-terrorism operations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Not only does it offer better accuracy, but its improved ergonomics and adaptability make it ideal for counter-terrorism operations and high-altitude warfare. Licensed production of the rifles officially began in Jan 2023. Given the dual threats along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and ongoing cross-border activities from Pakistan, rapid changes were made. The AK-203, a modernised version of the Kalashnikov series, will become the primary assault rifle for soldiers deployed along the northern and western borders, including the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control. The rifle, also named 'Sher' in India, replaces the INSAS in service. Initially, 70,000 rifles were imported to meet urgent requirements before full-scale production began at IRRPL under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. The joint venture, set up under an intergovernmental agreement and described as the "younger brother of BrahMos" by Maj Gen Sharma, has 50.5% Indian shareholding and 49.5% Russian stake. It operates from an 8.5-acre facility in Amethi and is not a part of the erstwhile ordnance factories structure. The workflow is overseen by a board of directors comprising four representatives each from India and Russia, besides senior defence officials. Currently, the factory employs over 260 personnel, including permanent Russian experts, and aims to scale up staffing to 537, of which 90% will be locals. IRRPL has achieved 50% indigenisation and aims to deliver the first fully indigenous AK-203 by Dec 2025, after which production will ramp up to 1.5 lakh rifles annually. The company has received 100% Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia, with all testing now indigenised. Earlier, parts had to be sent to Russia for validation, the CEO said. Each rifle undergoes 120 processes – "every rifle goes through 120 hands", Maj Gen Sharma said – and comprises around 50 components and 180 sub-parts. It has a life of 15,000 rounds. "Every material now has an alternate source in India," he added.
News18
18-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
When ‘Sher' Will Roar: Fully Indigenised AK-203 Rifles Set To Arm Indian Army
The joint production of AK-203 rifles at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, is set to achieve 100% indigenisation by the end of 2025. Once fully indigenised, the rifle will be named 'Sher". The Indian Army has already received 48,000 units and is set to receive an additional 7,000 rifles by August 15. With further deliveries planned, the Army will have a total of 70,000 AK-203 rifles in its arsenal by the end of this year.
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Business Standard
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Inside India's plan to locally make 600,000 AK-203 rifles in Amethi by 2030
The AK-203 assault rifles being manufactured in Amethi's Korwa by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) are set to be completely indigenous by the end of 2025. As of now, 50 per cent of the components and processes are already locally sourced, and full indigenisation is on track, according to IRRPL CEO and MD Major General SK Sharma. "If you ask a soldier, then his most reliable friend is an assault rifle... AK-203 will be the most reliable thing in the future," Sharma told news agency ANI. He added that the Indian armed forces will receive 70,000 rifles by the end of this year, of which 48,000 have already been delivered. Delivery timeline to beat deadline by nearly two years Under a ₹5,200 crore contract, IRRPL is to supply 601,427 AK-203 rifles to the Indian armed forces by October 2032. However, the company now aims to complete deliveries by December 2030 — almost two years ahead of schedule. Currently, production is scaling up. An additional 7,000 rifles will be delivered in the next few weeks, with 15,000 more expected by December 2025. From 2026 onwards, monthly production will reach 12,000 rifles, helping meet the early completion target. 'Sher' replaces INSAS in border forces The AK-203, named "Sher" in India, is a modernised version of the classic Kalashnikov. Lighter than the INSAS (3.8 kg vs 4.15 kg), it is set to become the standard-issue weapon for troops posted along the Line of Control and Line of Actual Control. The rifle is built for reliability in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. Indo-Russian venture backed by army expertise Formed in 2019 under an intergovernmental agreement, IRRPL is a joint venture between Russian firms Rosoboronexport and Concern Kalashnikov, and Indian public-sector companies AWEIL and MIL. The company is led by a team of Indian Army officers and operates from an 8.5-acre site in Amethi. Major Gen Sharma described the venture as the 'younger brother of BrahMos', highlighting its strategic value. High precision manufacturing and future scale Each AK-203 rifle goes through 120 manufacturing processes and comprises about 50 components and 180 sub-parts. The rifle has a service life of 15,000 rounds. Already, 60 critical parts have been indigenised, with components sourced from Indian vendors and assembled at the Amethi facility. IRRPL aims to manufacture 150,000 rifles annually post full indigenisation, eventually reaching a production rate of 600 rifles per day — approximately one rifle every 100 seconds. (With agency inputs)
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
What are the Amethi-made AK-203 rifles, deliveries for which will start in next 2-3 weeks?
Make in India, Amethi-made AK-203 rifles: Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is set to complete the delivery of all 6.01 lakh rifles nearly 22 months ahead of schedule. According to PTI, under a Rs 5,200 crore contract, the company mandated to supply 6,01,427 rifles to the armed forces by October 2032. However, the company plans to finish the deliveries by December 2030. Recently, Maj Gen SK Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL said that the company delivered around 48,000 rifles so far. He added that IRRPL will handed over another 7000 in the next 2-3 weeks and 15,000 additional by December this year, reports PTI. The AK-203 is a modernised version of the Kalashnikov series. It will become the primary assault rifle for soldiers deployed along the northern and western borders, including the Line of Control (LOC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC). According to the report, each rifle undergoes 120 processes and comprises around 50 components and 180 sub-parts. The weapon has a life of 15,000 rounds. 'Every material now has an alternate source in India,' Sharma said, adding that quality control at the plant is being developed into one of the best in the country, reports PTI. The AK-203 rifles aims to replace the INSAS in service. Initially, 70,000 rifles were imported to meet urgent requirements before full-scale production. However, now IRRPL has planned to ramp up the production up to 1.5 lakh rifles annually. IRRPL is located in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi. It operates from an 8.5-acre facility and employs over 260 personnel, including permanent Russian experts. It was incorporated in 2019 under an inter-governmental agreement to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces. It brings together Russian partners Rosoboronexport and Concern Kalashnikov with Indian shareholders Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL). (With inputs from PTI)
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First Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Why Indian Army's Amethi-made AK-203 rifles are a big deal
The Indian Army is set to receive a new batch of AK-203 assault rifles by December. The rifles are being produced by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) and manufactured in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi. This work is part of a Rs 5,200-crore deal signed under the 'Make in India' campaign. The AK-203 is a modern version of the famous Kalashnikov rifle series and is also known as 'Sher' in India read more The AK-203 is a modern version of the famous Kalashnikov rifle series. File Photo/ANI The Indian Armed Forces will soon receive a fresh supply of AK-203 assault rifles. These rifles are being made in India by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture set up to locally produce the AK-203. In India, the rifle has been named 'Sher' and is being manufactured in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi. ALSO READ | How India used Scalp missiles, Hammer bombs and drones for precision strikes in Operation Sindoor The agreement for more than six lakh AK-203 rifles was signed in 2021. The delivery is likely to be completed almost 22 months earlier than planned. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what exactly are these rifles? And how are they being produced? Let's take a look: What are AK-203 rifles? The AK-203 is a modern version of the famous Kalashnikov rifle series. These rifles are being made at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) factory in Amethi's Korwa region in Uttar Pradesh. This work is part of a Rs 5,200 crore deal signed under the 'Make in India' campaign. In India, the AK-203 is also known as 'Sher'. #WATCH | Amethi, Uttar Pradesh: 100% of indigenisation of AK 203 rifles to be done by the end of 2025. — ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2025 To meet immediate needs, 70,000 rifles were first brought from abroad before local production started. Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL, described the project as the 'younger brother of BrahMos'. He told PTI that IRRPL has 50.5% Indian shareholding and 49.5% Russian. The AK-203 rifles are far more advanced than the older AK-47 and AK-56 models. They are among the most powerful rifles in the Kalashnikov family. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These rifles are set to replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) rifles, which have been in use for over 30 years. Unlike the INSAS, which uses a 5.56x45 mm cartridge, the AK-203 uses a 7.62x39 mm cartridge, NDTV reported. Its magazine can hold up to 30 cartridges. The rifle is built to boost the performance of Indian forces during counter-insurgency and anti-terror operations. It weighs around 3.8 kg, while the INSAS weighs 4.15 kg. #BreakingNews | India on track to achieve 100% indigenous AK-203 rifles by 2025@kaidensharmaa brings a ground report from the Indo-Russian rifle factory in Amethi#IndiaDefenceSystem #AK203Rifle | @GrihaAtul — News18 (@CNNnews18) July 18, 2025 Without a buttstock, the 'Sher' rifle measures 705 mm in length, compared to the 960 mm length of the INSAS, the report said. The AK-203 will be the main assault weapon for troops stationed along the northern and western borders, including the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control. Features like a telescopic buttstock, better recoil control, and support for modern optics make the AK-203 fit for present-day combat needs, according to The New Indian Express. ALSO READ | BrahMos, ammo & more: A look at weapons India exports Where are these rifles made? The AK-203 assault rifles are being produced by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). 'Around 48,000 rifles have been delivered so far. Another 7,000 will be handed over in the next two to three weeks and 15,000 more by December this year,' Maj Gen SK Sharma said. He added, 'From 2026, the factory will make 12,000 rifles each month, which means the full order will be completed well before the deadline.' The factory is set up on 8.5 acres of land in Amethi and currently has over 260 staff, including permanent Russian experts. The workforce will increase to 537, with 90 per cent being locals, according to the officer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD IRRPL has reached 50 per cent indigenisation and aims to deliver the first fully Indian-made AK-203 rifle by December. After that, production will scale up to 1.5 lakh rifles a year. #WATCH | Amethi, Uttar Pradesh: CEO & MD of Indo Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), Major General SK Sharma says, "If you ask a soldier, then his most reliable friend is an assault rifle... AK-203 will be the most reliable thing in the future. We have received an order of… — ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2025 The joint venture has received complete Transfer of Technology (ToT) from Russia, and all testing is now done within India, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Each rifle goes through 120 steps and is made up of about 50 components and 180 sub-parts. The weapon has a service life of 15,000 rounds. 'Every material now has an alternate source in India,' Sharma said, adding that the plant's quality control system is becoming one of the best in the country. IRRPL was formed in 2019 through an inter-governmental agreement to produce AK-203 rifles for the Indian Armed Forces. The joint venture includes Russian companies Rosoboronexport and Concern Kalashnikov, along with Indian firms Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL). A team from the Indian Army, headed by Maj Gen Sharma, is overseeing the company's work. When asked about plans to go beyond the AK-203 platform, Sharma told The Times of India, 'Yes, we are expecting to expand, there are efforts in that direction. The intergovernmental agreement was very clear that this company will also produce other parts of the Kalashnikov Concern and AK-203 is just the entry product.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
