India test-fires first fully indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’ rifle in Amethi

India has successfully manufactured and test-fired the first fully indigenised AK-203 assault rifle, named ‘Sher’, marking a major milestone in the country’s push to reduce dependence on imported components for infantry weapons.

The rifle was produced at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) facility at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district. Every component and input material used in the prototype has been sourced from Indian industry, according to IRRPL CEO and Managing Director Major General SK Sharma.

The achievement takes the AK-203 programme beyond the phased localisation of individual components to complete domestic sourcing of the weapon. IRRPL is an India-Russia joint venture established to manufacture the rifles in India for the armed forces.

Army trials in September

The first fully indigenous prototype has undergone firing tests, including burst firing, with the initial results described as encouraging. The company will now manufacture the required number of fully indigenised prototypes for trials by the Indian Army in September 2026.

Sharma said the milestone represented end-to-end indigenisation rather than merely replacing selected imported parts with locally manufactured alternatives.

The development is significant because production of the AK-203 initially involved a combination of Russian and Indian components, with localisation increasing progressively as technology and manufacturing processes were transferred. The latest prototype demonstrates that the domestic supply chain can now provide the components and materials needed to manufacture the rifle in India.

Production gathers pace

IRRPL is also preparing to substantially increase production at its Amethi facility. The company is working towards a manufacturing rate of one AK-203 every 100 seconds.

The Indian Army is set to receive around six lakh AK-203 rifles as part of its programme to replace ageing INSAS rifles. IRRPL has said improvements in capacity, localisation and production efficiency could allow it to complete deliveries nearly a year ahead of the earlier schedule.

The AK-203 is a gas-operated assault rifle chambered for 7.62x39mm ammunition and belongs to the Kalashnikov family of weapons. It combines the basic operating platform of the AK series with updated ergonomics and provisions for modern accessories.

The rifle is intended to provide infantry soldiers with a more modern standard-issue weapon as the Army progressively phases out its older INSAS rifles.

India-Russia venture

IRRPL was established in 2019 as a joint venture involving Indian defence public sector companies and Russian entities Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport. The Korwa facility forms the centrepiece of the programme to manufacture the AK-203 domestically.

The move towards complete indigenisation is also expected to broaden opportunities for Indian manufacturers, including smaller defence suppliers that provide materials and precision-engineered components.

For the AK-203 programme, the successful firing of the fully indigenous prototype represents an important transition: from producing a foreign-designed rifle under licence in India to sourcing the entire manufacturing input from domestic industry.

The immediate focus will now shift to the September Army trials. Successful evaluation would clear the way for fully indigenised ‘Sher’ rifles to move into large-scale production for the armed forces.