Another important milestone has been crossed in India's defense manufacturing sector. AK-203 'Lion' assault rifle made with 100 percent Indian components and raw material was successfully tested at Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. This rifle has been manufactured by Indo-Russian Joint Venture Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL).
The firing test of this rifle was done on 23 August. The company said initial tests, including burst firing, were successful. The special thing about this new version is that every component and raw material used in the rifle has been taken from Indian industries. Hence, the company claims that this is not just localization of some spare parts, but indigenization of the entire rifle.
The company is now manufacturing the required number of indigenous prototypes, and the rifles will be handed over to the Indian Army for testing in September 2026. In the army test, the rifle will be examined according to its performance and technical requirements. After that, the way to mass production can be made.
What is special in 'Sher'?
The AK-203 is a 7.62×39 mm caliber assault rifle from the famous Kalashnikov family. According to available information, its firing speed is approximately 700 rounds per minute, while the effective firing range is approximately 800 meters. The rifle also has the facility to mount a variety of equipment due to its modern design and modular rail system.
The AK-203 project in Amethi was started through India-Russia defense cooperation. Initially, production depended on imported components. However, over the last few years, the use of Indian components has steadily increased and the milestone of 100 percent indigenous production has now been achieved. This is expected to give a big boost to the domestic defense industry, supply chain and technological capabilities.
IRRPL is soon working towards developing the production capacity to make one AK-203 rifle every 100 seconds. Apart from manufacturing rifles in large quantities for the Indian Army, this project can also open up export opportunities for the Indian defense manufacturing sector in future.
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