India has achieved a major milestone in defence manufacturing with the development of its first fully indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’ assault rifle. The rifle has completed firing tests, including burst firing, and prototypes are being prepared for Indian Army trials in September 2026.
The development marks a significant step in India’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported components and build a stronger domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. The rifle has reportedly been manufactured using Indian components and input materials across the entire production chain, with the manufacturer describing the achievement as “100 percent Genuine Indigenisation”.
Every Component Made in India
Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO and managing director of Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), announced the development in a recent post, according to the source report. Sharma said Indian components and input materials were used throughout the rifle’s production chain.
The company described the achievement as complete indigenisation, with every component and input material sourced from Indian industry. The first fully indigenous rifle has already undergone firing tests, including burst firing, with the initial results described as encouraging.
IRRPL is now preparing the required number of fully indigenised prototypes for trials by the Indian Army in September 2026. The development comes as the company works towards expanding domestic production of the AK-203 for the Indian military.
Production Target of One Rifle Every 100 Seconds
Alongside increasing indigenous content, IRRPL is also working to accelerate the production of AK-203 rifles.
According to Sharma, the company plans to move towards producing one AK-203 ‘Sher’ every 100 seconds. It is also expanding production capacity and improving manufacturing processes while increasing the level of indigenisation.
These efforts have reportedly helped bring forward the planned delivery of approximately six lakh rifles to the Indian Army by almost a year, according to Sharma. IRRPL was established to manufacture more than six lakh AK-203 rifles for the Indian Armed Forces at its Korwa facility in Amethi.
AK-203 to Replace the INSAS Rifle
The AK-203 is a gas-operated 7.62x39mm assault rifle based on the Kalashnikov platform. It features modular accessory rails, updated ergonomics and a modern targeting configuration intended for contemporary combat requirements.
The rifle has a reported firing rate of 700 rounds per minute and an effective range of up to 800 metres. The Indian military is inducting the AK-203 as a replacement for the ageing INSAS rifle.
The shift is part of the Indian military’s effort to modernise its small-arms inventory with newer assault rifles suited to current operational requirements.
Why 100% Indigenisation Matters
The latest milestone is important not simply because the AK-203 is being produced in India, but because the manufacturing chain for the first fully indigenous rifle uses Indian components and input materials throughout.
IRRPL was originally established as an India-Russia joint venture to manufacture AK-203 rifles domestically. Achieving complete indigenisation therefore represents a further step in the evolution of the project, taking domestic production beyond assembly and towards an entirely Indian component base.
A higher level of domestic sourcing can help strengthen India’s defence-industrial ecosystem by creating demand for Indian suppliers and developing manufacturing capabilities around defence equipment. It can also reduce dependence on external supply chains for critical components.
The AK-203 programme is also linked to the broader Make in India push in defence manufacturing, with IRRPL working to increase domestic production capacity and indigenisation.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is the preparation of fully indigenous AK-203 prototypes for Indian Army trials scheduled for September 2026. The outcome of these trials will be important in determining the rifle’s progression towards wider production and induction.
At the same time, IRRPL is working to increase production speed and capacity, with a stated target of producing one rifle every 100 seconds. The company is also seeking to accelerate deliveries of the larger order of more than six lakh AK-203 rifles planned for the Indian Armed Forces.
The development thus combines two objectives: modernising the Army’s assault-rifle inventory and deepening the domestic manufacturing base needed to support India’s long-term defence production ambitions.
