AK-203 'Sher' Rifle to Become 100% Made-in-India by End of 2025: Indo-Russian Rifles Chief

India’s standard-issue AK-203 assault rifle, locally known as ‘Sher’, is set to become fully indigenous by the end of 2025, according to Major General SK Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL).

Currently being manufactured at the Korwa factory in Uttar Pradesh under the ₹5,200 crore ‘Make in India’ initiative, the rifle has already achieved 50% indigenisation. Sharma confirmed in a recent interview that “Fifty percent indigenisation has been completed so far. This will reach 100% by the end of the year.” He added that once full localisation is achieved, the production rate will rise significantly, eliminating delays from overseas validation. Now, all testing and quality assurance is done in India.

At full capacity, the Korwa unit will be able to produce up to 600 rifles per day, or one every 100 seconds. According to Sharma, “Every material now has an alternate source in India,” showcasing India’s growing strength in small arms manufacturing.

AK-203: The Future of India’s Infantry

The AK-203 is a modernized fifth-generation version of the iconic AK-47, combining legendary reliability with advanced ergonomics and updated technology. It is set to replace the outdated INSAS rifles across the Indian Army, especially in forward operational zones like the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).

This rifle is the product of a joint venture signed in 2019 under an intergovernmental agreement between Russia's Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov Concern, and India's Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL). India holds a 50.5% stake, while Russia owns 49.5%.

Early Delivery Targets Surpassing Expectations

Originally scheduled for final delivery by October 2032, IRRPL now aims to deliver over 600,000 rifles by December 2030 — a full two years ahead of schedule. So far, 48,000 rifles have been handed over to Indian forces, and 70,000 are expected by year-end. The factory will ramp up to produce 12,000 rifles per month starting in 2026.

Sharma noted, “Another 7,000 rifles will be handed over in the next two to three weeks and 15,000 more by December.”

Precision and Quality: Built Into Every Rifle

Each AK-203 rifle contains 50 components and 180 sub-parts, built to fire up to 15,000 rounds. Every weapon passes through the hands of 120 workers for quality checks. To date, 60 critical parts have been indigenised, and Indian vendors are now supplying the rest.

IRRPL currently employs over 260 people, most of them local hires. Plans are in place to expand this to 537 employees, supported by permanent Russian technical experts.

From Imports to Self-Reliance

Before the Korwa plant was operational, India imported 70,000 AK-203 rifles to meet urgent needs and also purchased 147,000 SIG Sauer 716 rifles from the US. Sharma explained that initial delivery was slow due to the localisation process, but that phase is now nearly complete.

“We are planning to deliver all rifles by end of 2030, two years ahead of the contract.”

Beyond AK-203: Plans for Expansion and Exports

The Korwa factory could also produce other Kalashnikov weapons, Sharma revealed. “Yes, we are expecting to expand. AK-203 is just the entry product, and there are efforts to diversify.”

He added that IRRPL is now preparing for its first international export order, targeting friendly countries, and emphasized that “Nothing will affect the vendors irrespective of embargoes.”

Sharma proudly described the project as the “younger brother of BrahMos”, citing it as a shining example of India-Russia defence cooperation. “Russia has always stood with us. Every Indian Army officer has used a Russian weapon at some point — they’re trusted and reliable.”

By 2032, IRRPL aims to become one of the top five small arms manufacturers in the world.

Missile Tests Also Hit the Mark

In a separate development, India also successfully test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles — Prithvi-II and Agni-I — from Odisha’s Chandipur test range. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that all technical and operational parameters were validated, boosting confidence in India’s missile arsenal under the Strategic Forces Command.

With a fast-track delivery of AK-203 rifles, expanding localisation, and new export ambitions, India is marking a significant step towards self-reliance in small arms production — setting the foundation for both national security and defence industry growth.