India Likely to Order AK-203 Assault Rifles

Russia’s state-owned Rosoboronexport revealed during the ongoing Aero India 2021 show that India would soon order latest 7.62mm AK-203 assault rifles.

"The contract for the delivery of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles to the Defense Ministry of India by Indo-Russian Private Rifles Limited has been worked out and is ready for signing. We hope this will happen in the near future," the company told TASS.

Russia is demonstrating the external outlook of the AK-203 assault rifle designated for the Indian Army for the first time at the Aero India 2021 exhibition.

A Kalashnikov rifles manufacturing unit was opened in India’s Amethi. The Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Limited unit, a joint venture between India and Russia at the Korwa Ordnance Factory will manufacture the AK-203 rifles.

Compared to the baseline AK-203 version, the assault rifle designated for the Indian Army has a fixed side-folding butt. The empty assault rifle weighs 3.8 kg, has a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute and an accuracy range of 800 m. The AK-203 assault rifle intended for the Indian Amy is equipped with a Picatinny rail and has a barrel length of 415 mm.