The company that manufactures one of the most-used and best-known automatic assault rifles – the Kalashnikov AK47 – will soon start making similar weapons near the Indian town of Korwa, according to Russia’s ambassador in New Delhi.
As part of an Ind0-Russian venture, Rifles Private Ltd. (IRRPL) will produce Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles very soon, Belga News Agency reported. This model is an updated version of the now iconic AK47.
“We hope the manufacture of the AK-203s will begin quickly,” Russian ambassador Denis Alipov announced on Friday, adding that "we are close to signing the contract."
This will be the first time that the weapons are produced outside Russia. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the founding of the Indo-Russian company in March 2019. It should provide the Indian armed forces with 600,000 AK-203 rifles and is part of a large arms treaty.
