Adani Defence signs 5-year deal to power India-Russia AK-203 rifle programme with indigenous ammunition

Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) to supply indigenously manufactured 7.62x39 mm ammunition for AK-203 assault rifles being produced in India, creating an integrated domestic supply chain for the India-Russia rifle programme.

Under the pact, Adani Defence will supply the small-calibre ammunition required for the AK-203 programme over the five-year period, providing an Indian source of supply and supporting continuity of ammunition availability through the contract term, an Adani release said.

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The agreement brings together two critical strands of the AK-203 programme within India's defence manufacturing ecosystem, rifle production by IRRPL and ammunition manufacturing by Adani Defence, pairing locally produced rifles with locally manufactured ammunition for the first time under a single supply arrangement.

About the AK-203 programme

IRRPL was established in 2019 under an India-Russia intergovernmental agreement to manufacture AK-203 rifles for the Indian Armed Forces, with its manufacturing facility located at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district. The joint venture counts Indian shareholders Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and Munitions India Ltd, alongside Russian shareholders Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.

The Ministry of Defence has designated IRRPL as the entity responsible for indigenous production of the AK-203. The government had signed a contract with the company in December 2021 for 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles, to be manufactured at the Korwa facility.

Adani Defence's ammunition capabilities

Adani Defence has built small-calibre ammunition manufacturing capabilities in India, including a dedicated production facility in Kanpur. The company said the latest agreement would further strengthen domestic capabilities across the small-arms supply chain and support the government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat push for greater self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

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The deal also deepens the localisation of a programme originally set up to manufacture AK-203 rifles domestically, reducing India's reliance on external sources for a key consumable required for the weapon system to function, the ammunition itself.

(With inputs from PTI)