India’s AK-203 programme gets domestic ammunition push with Adani Defence deal
Adani Defence deal. (Image courtesy: X/@AdaniDefence)
New Delhi: India’s AK-203 rifle programme is set to receive indigenously made ammunition after Adani Defence & Aerospace signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). Under the pact, Adani Defence will supply domestically manufactured 7.62x39mm ammunition for AK-203 assault rifles being produced for the Indian armed forces.
The agreement will add an Indian ammunition source to the India-Russia small-arms programme and further strengthen its domestic supply chain. Adani Defence will provide the ammunition for the AK-203 rifles throughout the five-year contract period, supporting continuity of supply from within the country.
The AK-203 rifles are being manufactured at IRRPL’s facility in Korwa, Amethi district, Uttar Pradesh. The facility is part of the India-Russia joint venture established in 2019 under an intergovernmental agreement to manufacture the rifles in India.
IRRPL has both Indian and Russian defence companies as its shareholders. Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and Munitions India Ltd are the Indian partners, while Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport represent the Russian side.
In December 2021, the defence ministry signed a contract with IRRPL for the manufacture of 601,427 AK-203 rifles at the Korwa facility, giving a major boost to the AK-203 programme. The rifles are being produced in India for the Indian Armed Forces as part of efforts to increase domestic defence manufacturing.
Adani Defence has also developed capabilities to manufacture small-calibre ammunition in India, including a production facility in Kanpur. The latest agreement links this domestic ammunition manufacturing capacity with the AK-203 rifle programme, creating a more integrated supply chain.
The five-year pact adds another level of localization to the India-Russia rifle project by bringing both rifle production and ammunition supply into the domestic manufacturing ecosystem. Adani Defence said the agreement will strengthen India’s small-arms supply chain and contribute to the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat objective in defence manufacturing.
