UP factory test-fires first 100% indigenised AK-203 rifle, Army trials set for September
Breaking away from relying on imported parts, every single component and input material used in constructing this version of the assault rifle was sourced entirely from domestic manufacturers, marking a key advancement for local defense manufacturing.
- Aug 23, 2026,
- Updated Aug 23, 2026 8:49 PM IST
The first prototype of the 100 percent indigenised AK-203 'Sher' assault rifle completed successful test firing, including burst firing, at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The milestone paves the way for crucial Indian Armed Forces user trials scheduled to begin in September 2026.
Breaking away from relying on imported parts, every single component and input material used in constructing this version of the assault rifle was sourced entirely from domestic manufacturers, marking a key advancement for local defense manufacturing.
“We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials,” said Major General SK Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL, in a LinkedIn post sharing footage of the test firing.
He emphasised that the achievement goes beyond localizing select parts, representing “true, end-to-end '100% genuine indigenisation' of the rifle.” He described the development as "Atmanirbhar Bharat in action," noting that initial results from the firing trials were extremely encouraging.
IRRPL is a joint venture formed between Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings — including Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Troop Comforts Limited (OSL) — and Russian defense giants Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.
With the prototype successfully validated, the factory is shifting focus to producing the required batch of fully indigenised rifles for the upcoming September military trials. The facility is streamlining its operations, "moving towards a production rate of one AK-203 (Sher) every 100 seconds."
Under a ₹5,200 crore contract, IRRPL is mandated to supply 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles to the Indian armed forces by October 2032. However, driven by local production optimization and enhanced operational capacity, the company plans to advance its delivery timeline by nearly a full year, aiming to complete the entire order by December 2030.
The first prototype of the 100 percent indigenised AK-203 'Sher' assault rifle completed successful test firing, including burst firing, at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The milestone paves the way for crucial Indian Armed Forces user trials scheduled to begin in September 2026.
Breaking away from relying on imported parts, every single component and input material used in constructing this version of the assault rifle was sourced entirely from domestic manufacturers, marking a key advancement for local defense manufacturing.
“We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials,” said Major General SK Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL, in a LinkedIn post sharing footage of the test firing.
He emphasised that the achievement goes beyond localizing select parts, representing “true, end-to-end '100% genuine indigenisation' of the rifle.” He described the development as "Atmanirbhar Bharat in action," noting that initial results from the firing trials were extremely encouraging.
IRRPL is a joint venture formed between Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings — including Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Troop Comforts Limited (OSL) — and Russian defense giants Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.
With the prototype successfully validated, the factory is shifting focus to producing the required batch of fully indigenised rifles for the upcoming September military trials. The facility is streamlining its operations, "moving towards a production rate of one AK-203 (Sher) every 100 seconds."
Under a ₹5,200 crore contract, IRRPL is mandated to supply 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles to the Indian armed forces by October 2032. However, driven by local production optimization and enhanced operational capacity, the company plans to advance its delivery timeline by nearly a full year, aiming to complete the entire order by December 2030.