India-Russia AK-203 JV will be fully indigenised in 3 years

Highlights

• The project, dedicated to the nation by PM Narendra Modi in Amethi recently, will replace the current INSAS rifle which has outlived its utility to meet operational challenges
• The modern AK-203 is needed for soldiers facing combat situations that cover the entire spectrum of warfare and its induction has been much delayed

The India-Russia project to produce the latest AK-203 assault rifles, expected to meet operational requirements in conventional and counter-terrorism environments, will be fully indigenised in three years and deliver a much needed punch to Indian security forces.

The project, dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Amethi recently, will replace the current INSAS rifle which has outlived its utility to meet operational challenges. “It is a personal weapon to meet the operational requirements and impart flexibility as needed for conventional and sub-conventional operations,” said a source.

The modern AK-203 is needed for soldiers facing combat situations that cover the entire spectrum of warfare and its induction has been much delayed. “It is modular to facilitate replacement of sub-assemblies and effective range of not less than 300 metres,” the source said. The rifle will use Indian in-service ammunition.The additional features of the AK-203 which stand out compared to the base AK-103 model include a telescopic foldable stock and rear slider sight up to a range of 800 metres as compared to the shorter barrel and smaller sight radius of the AK-104 and AK-204. These weapons are designed for close quarter combat role and not intended to be used as an assault rifle.

The facilities at the existing ordnance factory which is producing pump action guns (PAGs) have not been utilised to the extent possible, with production picking up only after 2015-16. The defence acquisition council accorded acceptance of necessity for 1.6 lakh close quarter combat carbines with the ordnance factory at Korwa as the production agency in 2006. But three subsequent request for proposals were floated and trial of four firms completed in 2014 and the RFP was retracted due to a single vendor situation.

Since then, just about 4,230 PAGs have been issued to various police forces till March 31, 2018, for Rs 19 crore. The ordnance factory is also producing components for small arms, ammunition and heavy vehicles and supplying other establishments in Kanpur, Muradnagar and Tiruchirapalli. The factory’s value of production is Rs 35 crore.

Production of the AK-203 should begin between 3-6 months and the project should deliver 1.2 lakh rifles in three years. The indigenisation aspect is significant and the rifles will be fully made in India after three years. “The rifle is capable of functioning under all prevailing operational conditions, from minimum temperatures of minus 20 to a maximum of 45 degree Celsius,” the source said.

TOI