AK-203 Sher Rifle
India has achieved a significant milestone in defence manufacturing with the successful production and test-firing of the first fully indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’ assault rifle. Manufactured by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) at its Korwa facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, the rifle has been built entirely using Indian-made components and raw materials. The development is being hailed as a major achievement under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
According to IRRPL CEO and Managing Director Major General S.K. Sharma, every component and input material used in the rifle has been sourced from Indian industry. He described the achievement as genuine end-to-end indigenisation rather than simple localisation of selected parts. The rifle has already undergone successful firing and burst-firing tests with encouraging results.
The company is now preparing multiple indigenous prototypes that will be handed over to the Indian Army for formal trials in September 2026. These trials will determine the rifle’s readiness for large-scale induction into service.
The Army prototypes will undergo a series of evaluations, including user trials, quality assurance assessments, infantry testing and environmental trials in extreme weather and high-altitude conditions. Following successful trials, production is expected to accelerate significantly.
IRRPL has announced plans to achieve a manufacturing rate of one AK-203 rifle every 100 seconds. The company is also expanding production capacity and optimising manufacturing processes to meet future demand.
The joint venture has a contract to supply more than 600,000 AK-203 rifles to the Indian Armed Forces. Officials believe production improvements could allow deliveries to be completed ahead of schedule.
The AK-203 is a modern 7.62×39 mm gas-operated assault rifle that combines the reliability of the Kalashnikov platform with advanced ergonomics and modular features. It can fire approximately 700 rounds per minute and has an effective range of up to 800 metres.
The rifle is expected to replace the ageing INSAS rifles currently used by Indian forces. Defence experts believe the AK-203 will provide improved reliability, greater lethality and enhanced combat effectiveness for soldiers operating in diverse environments.
The successful development of the indigenous ‘Sher’ rifle represents a major boost for India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and highlights the country’s growing capability to design, produce and sustain advanced military equipment domestically.
© Copyright 2026, cloudTV. All Rights Reserved
