Amethi unit all set to make AK-203 rifles

• The production of the AK-203 assault rifles by the Indo-Russian joint venture at Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, is set to begin by year-end
• Training of Indian workers of the factory will begin shortly and the manufacturing process will reach 100% indigenisation in three years
• Earlier issues with regard to the ammunition for the rifles have been resolved.

Delayed due to war

• Retrials delayed by a few months due to the war in Ukraine.
• Over 6.1 lakh AK-203 assault rifles will be manufactured by a Joint Venture, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd (IRRPL), at Korwa, Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
• IRRPL was set up jointly between Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL) of India and Rosoboronexport (RoE) and concern Kalashnikov of Russia.

Production

• A modern production line has been established and a small arms range has been set up where acceptance tests of rifles will be carried out.
• The full-scale production is expected to be reached within 2-3 years.
• As per contractual terms, first 70,000 AK-203 rifles will be produced in India with a phased increase in the extent of localisation from 5% to 70%. The remaining rifles will be produced with 100% localisation.

Prelims Take Away

• AK 203 Rifles
• Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited
• Location Based Question