The fully localized AK-203 assault rifle has passed factory tests in India and has been sent to the army for field trials. This was announced on federal television by Alan Lushnikov, CEO of the Kalashnikov Concern.
We have made a 100% Indian AK-203. It has now passed factory tests and is going to the army for field trials.
When asked if this version shoots the same as the Russian one, the head of the concern replied that everything produced by Kalashnikov is made "as it should be."
AK-203 assault rifles are produced in Korwa (Amethi district, Uttar Pradesh) by the Russian-Indian joint venture IRRPL, established in 2019 by Rosoboronexport, Kalashnikov Concern, and two Indian companies – Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL). The company began producing Kalashnikov assault rifles in India in January 2023.
The AK-203 is an updated version of the AK-200, designed for the 7.62×39 mm cartridge. It differs significantly from the AK-103 due to its telescopic stock, improved ergonomics, and Picatinny rail, which allows the use of modern sights. The license was issued in 2021 based on the 2019 intergovernmental agreement for a period of 10 years – until 2031.
According to The Times of India, IRRPL plans to reach a production rate of one AK-203 every 100 seconds.