India achieves first fully indigenous AK-203 rifle, test-firing successful
In a significant step for domestic defence manufacturing, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has produced and successfully test-fired its first AK-203 assault rifle made entirely from Indian components and input materials. The rifle, named 'Sher', was tested at the Korwa ordnance facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, by IRRPL, the joint venture established in 2019 to manufacture AK-203 rifles locally under the 'Make in India' initiative.
The milestone was announced by IRRPL CEO and Managing Director, Maj Gen SK Sharma, in a LinkedIn post, where he described it as "a moment of immense pride" for the company. "We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials," he said. He emphasized that every component and input material going into the rifle has been sourced from Indian industry, calling it a "true, end-to-end '100% Genuine Indigenisation' of the rifle" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat in action."
The prototype has undergone firing tests, including burst firing, with initial results described as "extremely encouraging." The successful tests pave the way for Indian Armed Forces user trials, which are scheduled to begin in September 2026. IRRPL is now working on producing the requisite number of fully indigenised prototypes for these trials.
Production push and delivery timeline
Maj Gen Sharma said IRRPL would soon move towards a production rate of one AK-203 rifle every 100 seconds. This accelerated production pace is underpinned by capacity enhancement, indigenisation, and production optimisation.
These improvements have also enabled IRRPL to advance the delivery schedule for approximately six lakh rifles to the Indian Army by almost a year. Under a ₹5,200 crore contract, IRRPL is mandated to supply 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles to the Indian armed forces by October 2032. The company plans to complete the order by December 2030.
The rifle's features and role
The AK-203 is a gas-operated, 7.62x39mm assault rifle based on the Kalashnikov platform. It features modular accessory rails, updated ergonomics, and high-precision targeting. The rifle has a reported firing rate of 700 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 800 metres. It is intended to replace the ageing INSAS rifles in the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy, becoming the primary infantry weapon. The rifle is described as offering greater lethality, improved ergonomics, and operational reliability, with adaptability and endurance in tough conditions highlighted as key features.
Perspectives
Defence official
Lieutenant General Satish Dua (retd), who welcomed the development, also flagged the length of time it took. "While I'm very happy for this achievement of atmanirbharta, but it has taken us too long. I accompanied the Defence Minister in 2018 as CISC, when we started this process with Kalashnikov. We need to compress our timelines and processes," he said, adding, "However, it does not take anything away from your achievement. Jai Hind."