Thursday 03 / September / 2026
New Delhi: India has test-fired the first AK-203 assault rifle manufactured entirely with Indian components and materials, marking a major milestone in the country’s push for defence self-reliance.
The rifle was produced by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The India-Russia joint venture said the weapon represents the first AK-203 made with 100 percent Indian components and input materials.
Major General S.K. Sharma, CEO and managing director of IRRPL, described the successful prototype test as a significant achievement and said it represented the rifle’s complete end-to-end indigenisation. The Indian-produced variant has been designated “Sher,” meaning Tiger.
The development comes as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, which seek to expand domestic defence manufacturing and reduce India’s dependence on imported military equipment.
However, the achievement has also drawn criticism over the length of time required to indigenise the Russian-designed rifle. The AK-203 programme took around eight years, despite the underlying AK design having been in service for decades.
Delays in the programme previously prompted India to acquire 72,400 SIG716 rifles from US-based SIG Sauer in 2019, followed by a further order for 73,000 rifles in 2024.
The AK-203 remains fundamentally a Russian design, prompting questions over whether manufacturing localisation alone is sufficient to achieve the broader objective of defence self-reliance. Critics argue that the longer-term challenge for India will be developing and fielding advanced small arms based on indigenous design, technology and intellectual property.
The AK-203 is a modernised member of the AK family and is chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. The Indian variant features a 415 mm barrel, folding stock and modern mounting provisions for accessories and optical equipment.
