AK-203 (India)
Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) · Assault Rifle · In Service · 2023
Also known as: AK-203 IRRPL, Korwa AK-203, Indo-Russian AK-203
Overview
The AK-203 (India) is the Indian-manufactured variant of the Russian Kalashnikov Concern AK-203 assault rifle, produced under license at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh by Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture established in 2019 between India's Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and Munitions India Limited (50.5% Indian) and Russia's Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov Concern (49.5% Russian) under Rostec parentage. Production began in January 2023, with the first 27,000 rifles delivered to the Indian Army in May 2024 and over 118,000 rifles delivered by September 2025. A December 2021 procurement contract worth INR 5,124 crore covers the production of 601,247 rifles to replace the indigenous 5.56x45mm INSAS rifle as the Indian Army's standard infantry weapon.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3800 g (134.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4300 g (151.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 940 mm (37.01") |
| Folded Length | 690 mm (27.17") |
| Barrel Length | 415 mm (16.34") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 715 m/s (2346 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2037 J (1502 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 7.62x39mm · primary — also known as 7.62mm Soviet, 7.62x39mm M43
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Select Fire, Side Folding Polymer Stock, Picatinny Rail, Telescoping Stock, Ambidextrous Controls, Improved Ergonomics, Muzzle Brake, 15000 Round Lifespan
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Indian Army · adopted 2024 · as AK-203
Production
Estimated total produced: 601,247 · Production years: 2023-present
Indian government contract for 601,247 rifles signed December 2021; over 118,000 delivered by September 2025
Origin
Country of origin: India
Designer: Mikhail Kalashnikov
Notes
Indigenous Indian content trajectory targets: 25% (2024), 50% (2025), 100% planned by December 2025 under technology transfer. The rifle is mechanically identical to Russian-built AK-203s but bears IRRPL receiver markings. Built to fire at least 15,000 rounds before major component replacement.
Background
The Korwa Ordnance Factory site in Amethi was originally inaugurated in 2010 to produce the troubled Indian INSAS rifle's successor; following years of delays, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally relaunched the facility in March 2019 as the home of the Indo-Russian AK-203 joint venture, making the AK-203 the first foreign-designed assault rifle ever to be license-built in India at scale.