India has achieved a significant milestone in indigenous defence manufacturing with the production and test-firing of the first fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, known as the ‘Sher’, at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) facility in Korwa, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
The latest development marks a major stage in the localisation of the AK-203 programme. According to the reference report, the rifle tested at the Korwa facility has been manufactured using domestically sourced components and raw materials, completing the transition toward end-to-end Indian production. The weapon is now expected to move into Indian Army user trials, which will assess its suitability before wider operational deployment.
The Korwa facility was established under the India-Russia AK-203 production programme and is responsible for manufacturing the rifles for the Indian armed forces. The project involves a contract valued at around ₹5,200 crore for 601,427 AK-203 rifles. The government had earlier identified indigenous production of the rifle as an important step toward reducing dependence on imported assault rifles and strengthening India’s domestic defence manufacturing base.
Production at Korwa is being scaled up significantly. The facility is designed to reach a production rate of approximately 12,000 rifles per month, with the manufacturing line capable of completing a rifle roughly every 100 seconds. The current plan is to complete deliveries of the contracted rifles by December 2030, ahead of the original schedule.
The AK-203, designated ‘Sher’ for the Indian programme, is intended to replace the Indian Army’s ageing INSAS rifles. Weighing around 3.8 kg, the rifle is lighter than the approximately 4.15 kg INSAS and is designed around the established Kalashnikov family architecture, with an emphasis on reliability and ease of use in demanding operational conditions.
The Korwa Ordnance Facility serves as the main production hub for the AK-203 programme. Under the ₹5,200 crore contract, IRRPL is responsible for manufacturing and supplying 601,427 AK-203 rifles to the Indian armed forces.
For India’s defence sector, the first fully indigenous AK-203 represents more than the completion of another production milestone. Greater localisation of critical components can strengthen supply-chain resilience, build domestic manufacturing expertise and support the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat objective in defence production. The Ministry of Defence has previously stated that indigenisation of the AK-203 would contribute to self-sufficiency in assault rifles for the Indian armed forces.
The upcoming Army user trials will therefore be an important next step for the programme. If the rifle successfully completes the evaluation process, the milestone at Korwa could pave the way for further induction of an assault rifle that combines Russian-origin design heritage with an increasingly indigenous Indian manufacturing ecosystem.