Manufacturing of AK 203 rifles starts in India

[INS_Vikrant]

The Indian military’s much awaited quest for modern assault rifles is finally coming to an end. India and Russia have begun the joint production of AK 203 rifles at a factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.

“With the launch of series production of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles, high-quality, convenient and modern small arms will begin to enter service in India’s defence and law enforcement agencies,” Sergey Chemezov, general director of Russia’s state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec said in a statement.

More than six lakh rifles are to be manufactured in India as part of a joint venture — Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited — established between the Indian Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kalashnikov Concern, and Rosoboronexport, (both subsidiaries of the Rostec State Corporation).


While OFB has a 50.5 per cent stake in the joint venture, Kalashnikov has 42 per cent and Rosoboronexport 7.5 per cent.

According to the roadmap, an initial lot of 70,000 rifles are to be Made in India with lesser indigenous content. The first batch will consist of 5,000 rifles that are supposed to have only 5 per cent indigenous components. It will increase to 70 per cent when the initial lot of 70,000 is completed in 32 months, sources explained.

The idea is to have rifles made of 100 per cent indigenous components over a period of 128 months.

India and Russia had inked an agreement in December 2021 for procurement of 6,01,427 7.63x39mm AK 203 assault rifles through Korwa Ordnance Factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019.

Alexander Mikheev, director general of Rosoboronexport, said the beginning of deliveries to the Indian Army is expected soon.
In addition, the joint venture will be able to export its products to third countries,” he said.

India & Russia begin joint manufacturing of AK 203 rifles in UP, might export them too

India and Russia had inked an agreement in December 2021 for procurement of 6,01,427 assault rifles through Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi.

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[Beast]

Ak 203 is still an old rifle, old design. Not suitable for modern design. Especially CQB, armor and airborne.

 

[Skull and Bones]

Ak 203 is still an old rifle, old design. Not suitable for modern design. Especially CQB, armor and airborne.

This order is for general infantry. We have other platforms for specialized roles.

 

[Zarvan]

This order is for general infantry. We have other platforms for specialized roles.

That is the real problem. An Indian company produces Galil Ace. Some other companies are also entering joint ventures with foriegn companies. You have Para Military, Police, Intelligence and Armed Forces to equip. Until India really starts considering your regular Policeman as equally important to National Security as is Indian Army soldier nothing will change. Your Police should be equipped with either these or Galil Ace or some other assault rifle. Not the ones rejected by Indian Army that sends a very bad message.

 

[Burnol_Wala]

That is the real problem. An Indian company produces Galil Ace. Some other companies are also entering joint ventures with foriegn companies. You have Para Military, Police, Intelligence and Armed Forces to equip. Until India really starts considering your regular Policeman as equally important to National Security as is Indian Army soldier nothing will change. Your Police should be equipped with either these or Galil Ace or some other assault rifle. Not the ones rejected by Indian Army that sends a very bad message.

Indian Police usually don't have to deal with terrorists or gangsters with very sophisticated weapons unlike Pakistan's western front, mostly it is handmade desi guns . A few naxal affected districts and northeast areas can get a few copies of ak 203 but general police don't need it, it's an overkill.

 

[kaykay]

That is the real problem. An Indian company produces Galil Ace. Some other companies are also entering joint ventures with foriegn companies. You have Para Military, Police, Intelligence and Armed Forces to equip. Until India really starts considering your regular Policeman as equally important to National Security as is Indian Army soldier nothing will change. Your Police should be equipped with either these or Galil Ace or some other assault rifle. Not the ones rejected by Indian Army that sends a very bad message.

Indian police is not fighting any terrorism or insurgency so they don't need any sophisticated weapons as of now. Basic Insas is standard police rifle which is good for the job.

 

[Rajput of Bihar]

That is the real problem. An Indian company produces Galil Ace. Some other companies are also entering joint ventures with foriegn companies. You have Para Military, Police, Intelligence and Armed Forces to equip. Until India really starts considering your regular Policeman as equally important to National Security as is Indian Army soldier nothing will change. Your Police should be equipped with either these or Galil Ace or some other assault rifle. Not the ones rejected by Indian Army that sends a very bad message.

We don't have terrorists roaming around with Ak47 in our streets. Even some states don't issue firearm to constables at all. They have Lathi. That's it.

 

[Skull and Bones]

That is the real problem. An Indian company produces Galil Ace. Some other companies are also entering joint ventures with foriegn companies. You have Para Military, Police, Intelligence and Armed Forces to equip. Until India really starts considering your regular Policeman as equally important to National Security as is Indian Army soldier nothing will change. Your Police should be equipped with either these or Galil Ace or some other assault rifle. Not the ones rejected by Indian Army that sends a very bad message.

Police forces of each states have different evaluation team, and they buy weapons based on their threat perceptions. We have state police, who usually prefers 9 mm and lower caliber weapons. Then we have CRPF or CISF who prefers 5.56 rifles and 9 mm SMGs.

 

[Zarvan]

We don't have terrorists roaming around with Ak47 in our streets. Even some states don't issue firearm to constables at all. They have Lathi. That's it.

Yes that is exactly why you loose 200 people in Mumbai style attack. Several of those areas had Policeman deployed but they were carrying lathis. If they had guns the story would have been different. You still don't want to learn go ahead don't cry next time. In Europe also they don't have robbers roaming with AK but even they have started to deploy Armed Police in several areas equipped like these.

 

[villageidiot]

Yes that is exactly why you loose 200 people in Mumbai style attack. Several of those areas had Policeman deployed but they were carrying lathis. If they had guns the story would have been different. You still don't want to learn go ahead don't cry next time. In Europe also they don't have robbers roaming with AK but even they have started to deploy Armed Police in several areas equipped like these.

Bad take. Esp, referencing mumbai attacks.
Is this not an issue in Pakistan? Is our police considered just as important as the army? Do we not have a bigger terrorism problem than india?

So, why use a different yardstick for india?

 

[Zarvan]

Bad take. Esp, referencing mumbai attacks.
Is this not an issue in Pakistan? Is our police considered just as important as the army? Do we not have a bigger terrorism problem than india?

So, why use a different yardstick for india?

Who said I have double standard for India. We face same sort of crap. In fact insurgency inside Pakistan should never be and should never had been fought by Armed Forces. We should have used Police. We should have equipped a regular policeman plus created SSG level forces of Police and equipped special forces of Police with helicopters. The kind of work Police can done in your own country Army can't. Both have vastly different trainings. A regular Pakistani Policeman should be equipped like this.

 

[indushek]

Who said I have double standard for India. We face same sort of crap. In fact insurgency inside Pakistan should never be and should never had been fought by Armed Forces. We should have used Police. We should have equipped a regular policeman plus created SSG level forces of Police and equipped special forces of Police with helicopters. The kind of work Police can done in your own country Army can't. Both have vastly different trainings. A regular Pakistani Policeman should be equipped like this.

Hi but don't you think, this will make them too powerful?

I feel world over, people don't trust cops that much. It becomes even worse in Asian countries in general, given the corruption levels etc. With gun toting cops, there is a risk of unwanted episodes with common public. Plus if they get sophisticated equipment, and start trading it for money or favors to anti public elements, things will turn bad too soon right?