AK-203

AK-203
An Indian soldier with AK–203
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed	2007–2010[1]
Manufacturer	Kalashnikov Concern Indo-Russia Rifles
Produced	2022-Present
No. built	>118,000 (another 553,427 on order)
Specifications
Mass	3.8 kg (8.4 lb)[2]
Length	880–940 mm (35–37 in) (stock extended)
Barrel length	415 mm (16.3 in)
Cartridge	7.62×39mm[2]
Caliber	7.62mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	~700 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	715 m/s (2,346 ft/s)
Effective firing range	400–800 m (440–870 yd)[2] (based on sight adjustments)
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine[2] 50-round detachable quad-column magazine
Sights	Adjustable iron sights or picatinny rails for various optics
References	[3]

The AK-203 is a Russian gas-operated assault rifle designed to chamber the 7.62×39mm cartridge.^[2] It is one of the latest iterations of the AK series of assault rifles originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The AK-203 was developed in the 2010s by Kalashnikov Concern in Russia. It is primarily operated by Indian Armed Forces.

In 2019, India and Russia signed a Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). On 3 March the same year, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi inaugurated Indo-Russia Rifles in Korwa, Uttar Pradesh.^[4] The Joint Venture (JV), tasked for the production of AK-200 rifle family, included partnership among India's Ordnance Factory Board and Russia's Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov Concern under the parentship of Rostec. By then, the production of 750,000 rifles was approved.^[5]

As of February 2020, the production, which was originally expected to commence in May that year, was delayed initially to 2020-end due to pricing disagreements. One of the objectives of the project was for India to have 100% indigenisation on the production of the rifles. However, this meant that initially, the domestically produced rifles would be 20–25% costlier than those imported from Russia. The production of rifles would begin only after the JV submits a "competitive" commercial bid.^[6] Later, due to the travel bans during COVID-19 pandemic, negotiations were further delayed and a fresh bid could not be submitted which meant the production would not begin in 2020.^[7]

As of August 2021, India reportedly purchased 70,000 AK-203 rifles from Russia. The deliveries would begin from within three months.^[8]

In December 2021, India signed a ₹5,124 crore (equivalent to ₹57 billion or US$680 million in 2023)-worth contract^[9] with Kalashnikov Concern for the procurement of 601,427 rifles from IRRPL.^[10][11] For the first batch of 70,000 rifles to be manufactured, the indigenous content would rise from 5% to 70%, while the remaining rifles would have 100% indigenous content. The full-scale production could be reached in 2–3 years.^[12]

The AK-203 is chambered for 7.62×39 and it uses AK-type magazines.^[13] It weighs 3.8 kg, and has a length of 690 mm with the stock folded, or 930 mm with it extended.^[13]

Its rate of fire is 700 rounds per minute.^[13] Its polymer front housing free floating case has been accused of being difficult to handle according to combat footage from the Russo-Ukraine war. It has a birdcage type muzzle brake device for better handling of rifle and flatter trajectory of bullet.

An individual AK-203 has 50 components and 180 sub-components and is built to fire at least 15,000 rounds in its life.^[14]

The AK-203, nicknamed Sher,^[14] is the fourth generation of standard-issue rifle of the Infantry of the Indian Army following — Lee–Enfield .303 bolt action rifle (in service 1947–mid-1960s), L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle 7.62 NATO semi-automatic rifle (in service 1961–1998)^[15] and INSAS 5.56 assault rifle (in service since 1994 and being replaced).^[10]

On 25 January 2022, Russia supplied the first batch of 70,000 AK-203 rifles to the Indian Air Force. Meanwhile, the rest of the 600,000 rifles that are to be produced by Indo-Russia Rifles in India under technology transfer will be used by the Indian Army.^[16]

The AK-203 is produced in India by Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) at an 8.5 acres (34,000 m²)-facility at Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The company has 50.5% Indian ownership and 49.5% Russian ownership.^[14]

The production of the rifles in India began in January 2023.^[17][11] On 3 February 2023, Alexander Mikheev, director general of Rosoboronexport, announced that the first batch of AK-203s were completed at Amethi.^[18] On 12 October 2023, it was reported that Kalashnikov Concern completed shipment of machinery and tools for India to manufacture AK-203s.^[19]

On 5 July 2024, Rostec announced that Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt. Ltd. (IRRPL) had delivered 35,000 rifles to the Indian Army.^[20][21] As of then, the rifles had an indigenous content of 25%. The deliveries were completed in batches of 27,000 rifles on 20 May and 8,000 rifles on 5 July.^[12][22]

As of February 2025, IRRPL expects to deliver 70,000 and 100,000 rifles to the Army in 2025 and 2026, respectively.^[23]

As of 17 July 2025, IRRPL 48,000 rifles were delivered to the Indian Army with an additional batch of 7,000 units to be delivered within the next 2–3 weeks. Meanwhile, the Indian produced rifles has achieved an indigenous content of 50% while the 100% of the same is expected to be achieved by this year's end. Another batch of 15,000 rifles are to be delivered in December 2025. Following the complete indigenisation, the production rate will rise to 12,000 units monthly with 105,000 units annually. The order would be executed by October end of the original deadline of December 2032. By now the Indian Army has started phasing out the standard issue INSAS rifles.^[24][14]

Further, the Indian manufacturing facility currently employs 260 personnel, including permanent Russian experts, which is planned to be expanded to 537 personnel, which would include 90% Indians. The company also received 100% of technology and its testing has also been indigenised against the earlier practice of the parts to be approved from Russia. So far, 60 critical components have been indigenised which are supplied by vendors pan-India and then assembled and tested in India. All the components have an alternate Indian supplier already.^[14]

In an interview with Maria Vorobieva, Director of Kalashnikov Concern's Public Relations Department in October 2021, she said that some Asian nations, including those from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), are interested in acquiring the AK-203.^[25]

On September 25, 2024, it was revealed that following the sanctions imposed on Russia, several Middle Eastern and African countries were reported to have enquired with IRRPL regarding export of the rifle.^[26]

In April 2025, it was reported that the Kerala Police are looking at procuring the AK-203 with proposals to export it to Nepal.^[27]

• India: 48,000 delivered. Total 670,000 rifles planned for the Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.^[8]
  •  Indian Army: Total 48,000 delivered. Total 601,427 on order.^[24]
• Russia: In limited use by Russian Special Forces.

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