NEW DELHI: In a big boost for domestic production of rifle ammunition, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) and Adani Defence & Aerospace have signed a five-year agreement for supply of indigenous 7.62×39 mm small-calibre ammunition for India’s new assault rifle AK-203.Under the agreement, Adani Defence will supply 7.62×39 mm ammunition for the AK-203 for five years, a company statement said on Saturday. The arrangement provides an Indian source for the ammunition required for the programme and supports continuity of supply during the contract period. The partnership brings together AK-203 rifle manufacturing and ammunition production in India. The agreement further strengthens domestic capabilities across the small-arms supply chain and supports the govt’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence manufacturing.Adani Defence has established manufacturing capabilities for small-calibre ammunition in India, including a facility in Kanpur with production capacity for small-calibre ammunition.
IRRPL was incorporated in 2019 under an India-Russia intergovernmental agreement to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The joint venture has Indian shareholders Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and Munitions India Ltd, along with Russian shareholders Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.A defence ministry’s contract for over 6 lakh AK-203 rifles was signed with IRRPL in Dec 2021. Till now, IRRPL has delivered around 70,000 AK-203 rifles from its Korwa factory in Amethi to security forces.Recently, the first 100% indigenous AK-203 rifle, named ‘Sher’, was successfully manufactured and test-fired. Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO & MD of IRRPL, recently said that it was a “moment of immense pride for all of us at IRRPL. We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials. What makes this achievement truly special is that every single component and every input material going into this rifle has been sourced from Indian industry. This is not merely localisation of selected components; it is true, end-to-end “100% Genuine Indigenisation” of the rifle. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action.”AK-203 rifle is a modern, gas-operated, 7.62x39mm assault rifle combining the legendary reliability of the Kalashnikov platform with advanced ergonomics, modular accessory rails, and high-precision targeting for contemporary combat environments. It can fire 700 rounds per minute and has an effective range of up to 800 metres. It is significantly superior to the older INSAS rifle, offering greater lethality, better ergonomics, and flawless operational reliability. The Indian military is inducting over 6 lakh AK-203 assault rifles to replace the ageing INSAS rifles.