New Delhi: India has taken a major step towards self reliance in defence manufacturing with the successful firing trials of a fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, developed using only Indian components and raw materials.
Named “Sher”, the rifle was manufactured at the Korwa facility in Amethi by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited, the joint venture established to produce AK-203 rifles in India. The weapon has successfully completed firing trials, including automatic and burst firing.
The latest achievement marks a significant shift from the initial phase of the AK-203 programme, when rifles produced in India relied on imported knock down kits. Domestic content was gradually increased before reaching 100 per cent with the latest version.
India and Russia signed an agreement in 2019 to manufacture the AK-203 domestically. Production at Korwa began as part of a long term effort to replace the ageing INSAS rifle used by the Indian Army.
The localisation process involved developing Indian suppliers capable of manufacturing dozens of major components and hundreds of smaller parts according to stringent military specifications. It also required establishing domestic testing, quality control and proofing systems.
The AK-203 is a gas operated, magazine fed assault rifle chambered for the 7.62×39 mm cartridge. It features a folding and adjustable stock, ergonomic grip and a rail system for mounting optical and other accessories.
Under the existing programme, 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles are to be manufactured under a contract worth around Rs 5,200 crore. The production deadline has been advanced to December 2030, requiring the facility to eventually manufacture about 600 rifles every day.
The next major step will be user trials by the Indian Army. Several Sher rifles are expected to be handed over for testing by September 2026, where they will be assessed under broader operational conditions.
If the trials are successful, the fully indigenous AK-203 could become an important milestone in India’s effort to build defence equipment with domestic supply chains while reducing dependence on imported components.
