Automatic and burst firing modes were completed at the IRRPL Korwa ordnance facility in Amethi. Multiple 'Sher' rifle prototypes will soon be manufactured to be handed over to the Indian Army for trials, which are expected to happen by September 2026. The project was once famously described as the “younger brother of BrahMos.”
“A moment of immense pride for all of us at IRRPL. We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials. What makes this achievement truly special is that every single component and every input material going into this rifle has been sourced from Indian industry. This is not merely localisation of selected components; it is true, end-to-end '100% Genuine Indigenisation' of the rifle. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action,” CEO & MD of IRRPL Major General S K Sharma reportedly said.
“Very soon, IRRPL will be moving towards a production rate of one AK-203 (Sher) every 100 seconds... We are now working towards making the requisite number of 100% indigenised prototypes for handing over to the Army for trials during Sept 2026,” he reportedly added.
Why AK-203 matters?
Earlier reports had said that the 'Sher' will use 7.62 mm calibre rounds and will come with a firing capacity of approximately 700 rounds per minute, with an effective range of approximately 800 metres. The guns will replace the existing India-made INSAS assault rifles in the Army, Air Force, and Navy, thereby becoming the go-to primary weapon of Indian infantry units. Thus, from the snowy heights of the Himalayas to the deserts of Rajasthan and the dense forests of the region, reliability, adaptability, and endurance in tough conditions are the key features of the weapon.
The assault rifles are being produced at IRRPL’s facility as part of a Rs 5,200 crore deal signed under the 'Make in India' initiative. The first 35,000 India-assembled AK-203s were reportedly delivered to the Indian Army in 2024 ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July visit to Moscow. Post-indigenisation, it is expected that the factory will be able to produce 600 rifles per day — roughly one rifle every 100 seconds.
Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited is a joint venture involving the Indian Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kalashnikov Concern, and Rosoboronexport — both subsidiaries of the Rostec State Corporation.
