India has manufactured and successfully test-fired its first 100 per cent indigenised AK-203 ‘Sher’ assault rifle, marking a significant milestone in the country’s drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The prototype was produced at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Major General S K Sharma, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IRRPL, described the successful test firing as a significant achievement for the company and the wider Indian defence industry.
According to Maj Gen Sharma, every component and input material used in manufacturing the rifle was sourced from Indian industry. He emphasised that the achievement goes beyond the localisation of selected components and represents end-to-end indigenisation of the AK-203 platform.
The first prototype successfully underwent firing trials, including burst firing, with the initial results described as encouraging. The development represents a major step in building domestic manufacturing capabilities for small arms and reducing dependence on imported components and materials.
The AK-203 ‘Sher’ rifles are being manufactured by IRRPL, a joint venture involving Indian defence public sector undertakings and Russian partners Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport. The programme also involves Indian industrial partners and MSMEs supporting the rifle’s production ecosystem.
Following the successful firing of the prototype, IRRPL is preparing to manufacture the required number of fully indigenised AK-203 rifles for trials by the Indian Armed Forces. These trials are scheduled to begin in September 2026.
The company is also working towards significantly increasing its manufacturing rate. Maj Gen Sharma said IRRPL is moving towards a production capacity of one AK-203 rifle every 100 seconds, reflecting efforts to expand manufacturing capacity and optimise production processes.
The development assumes significance in the context of India’s broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which seeks to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing, develop indigenous supply chains and increase the participation of Indian industry in defence production.
IRRPL has been contracted to supply approximately 6.01 lakh AK-203 rifles to the Armed Forces under a contract valued at around Rs 5,200 crore. The contractual delivery schedule extends to October 2032, although the company has indicated its intention to complete deliveries considerably earlier, potentially by December 2030.
The company is seeking to bring forward the delivery timeline by nearly a year through capacity enhancement, greater indigenisation and production optimisation.
The successful production and test firing of the first fully indigenised AK-203 ‘Sher’ therefore marks an important transition from localisation to deeper domestic manufacturing capability. The upcoming Army trials will determine the rifle’s performance against operational requirements before wider induction decisions are taken.
