New Delhi. The Amethi-based Arms Factory will start the operational process by the end of this year to start manufacturing the AK-203 assault rifle. A joint venture between Indo Russian Rifles, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India (erstwhile OFB) and Russian Rosoboronexport is set to achieve full-scale manufacturing capability in three years. According to official sources, the joint venture is now fully geared up to manufacture the above mentioned weapons despite facing difficulties like payment related and complicated technology transfer due to sanctions from western countries. However, Kalashnikov has already delivered a batch of 70,000 rifles under orders for Russian-made AK-203 assault rifles. Officials said that they do not see any impediment in taking the project forward and all the necessary equipment is ready to be sent to India soon.
Let us tell you that a team of engineers from Russia has come to India and trained the personnel and explained to them how they will manufacture the above mentioned weapons in the coming days. Minor bottlenecks in the project, such as a batch of defective ammunition manufactured by the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board that caused some weapon systems to fail, have been fixed and a credible ammunition manufacturer has been identified Is. Officials said the Russian company has also proposed several upgrades to the rifles to include options such as adjustable stocks and sights, but they are not yet included in the package and may come as an add-on later. .
According to media reports, the Arms Factory in Amethi will manufacture 6 lakh rifles for the soldiers in the coming years. For them the army will remain as a customer. India and Russia signed an agreement worth Rs 5,124 crore in December last. This is the biggest defense deal between the two countries in recent years. The deal has a clause for complete technology transfer. The rifles will also be exported to friendly countries.