NewDelhi August 31:The long-pending AK 203 rifles deal with Russia, under Make in India, has been finalised and a final contract is being legally vetted by both sides before the signing process, ThePrint has learnt.<\/p>\n
Sources in the defence and security establishment said the production of the over 6 lakh rifles would begin by the end of this year, and that they have export potential as well.<\/p>\n
Under the deal, the first 20,000 AK 203 rifles, which will be the mainstay of the armed forces for years to come, will be imported from Russia at a cost of about $1,100 (or Rs 80,000) a piece depending on the conversion rate.<\/p>\n
The rest of the guns are to be manufactured in India as part of a joint venture \u2014 Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited \u2014 established between the Indian Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kalashnikov Concern, and Rosoboronexport, the Russian state agency for military exports. While OFB has a 50.5 per cent stake in the joint venture, Kalashnikov has 42 per cent and Rosoboronexport 7.5 per cent.<\/p>\n
The cost of these Make in India rifles would be a ‘little less’ than what the imported ones will cost, the sources said, refusing to get into specifics.<\/p>\n
The deal was first announced in 2018 amid tremendous excitement, but hit a roadblock over price negotiations, with the OFB quoting a higher price than the Russian product because of the extra man hours it would take and other issues.<\/p>\n
The defence ministry had even constituted a committee to break this logjam.<\/p>\n
The delay had forced the Army to order SiG 716 rifles from the US under a fast-tracked process to arm its frontline troops. With 72,000 SiG rifles already delivered, the Army is now pursuing emergency procurement of another 72,000.<\/p>\n
‘The contract for AK 203 is undergoing legal vetting and would be inked very soon,’ a source said.<\/p>\n
ThePrint had reported\u00a0 on 13 August that the AK 203 production has become a top priority for the Narendra Modi government and every effort is being made to get it going fast.<\/p>\n
The AK-203 is one of the most modern assault rifles from the stable of Kalashnikov Concern, which churns out the famous AK-series rifles, including AK-47.<\/p>\n
The rifle is chambered to fire 7.62\u00d739 mm ammunition (same as the AK-47).<\/p>\n
The new rifles will replace the 5.56\u00d745 mm INSAS (Indian Small Arms System), which have been in use for over two decades.<\/p>\n
Compared to the AK-103, which was originally meant for joint production, the AK-203 comes with collapsible stock that can be adjusted according to the shooter’s height.<\/p>\n
There is a different safety mechanism for the rifle, because of which the soldier does not have to lose contact with the grip when changing firing modes during an operation.<\/p>\n
There is also a new flash hider that comes handy when the assault rifle is used with night vision, as flash from the firing of a bullet can hamper visibility.<\/p>\n
The rifle comes with a new barrel and also an interchangeable magazine with the standard 30 and 50 rounds.<\/p>\n
The AK 47 magazine can be used with the AK 203.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the government had appointed Major General Sanjeev Sengar as the CEO of the Amethi factory where the rifles would be manufactured.<\/p>\n
The decision to appoint a serving Major General as the Amethi factory’s CEO is a first in decades for the Army.<\/p>\n
The Army has been concerned over low quality and delivery problems when it comes to ordnance factories’ products, so if this new model for the AK-203 factory is successful, it might just pave the way for a new set-up to oversee such facilities.<\/p>\n