Meet the AK-203 ‘Sher’: Amethi-made rifle that fires 700 rounds a minute

100% of indigenisation of AK 203 rifles to be done by the end of 2025. (X/ANI image)

The Indian armed forces are set to get a new batch of AK-203 assault rifles, which will be a modernised version of the Kalashnikov series. The AK-203 can fire up to 700 rounds in a minute and has a range of 800 metres.

The Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture company that has been established for the Indigenous production of AK-203, called 'Sher', in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi.

PTI reported that the company — which has been mandated under a Rs 5,200 crore contract to supply 6,01,427 rifles to the armed forces by October 2032 — plans to finish deliveries by December 2030, Maj Gen S K Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL, said.

Maj Gen S K Sharma said, "Around 48,000 rifles have been delivered so far. Another 7,000 will be handed over in the next two to three weeks, and 15,000 additional by December this year."

"From 2026, the factory will produce 12,000 rifles a month, enabling completion of the order much before the deadline," he added.

All about the AK-203 rifle

The AK-203 rifle is a modern firearm originating from Russia, designed by the renowned engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov between 2007 and 2010.

It is more modern compared to the AK-47 and AK-56 rifles, and is one of the most lethal rifles in the Kalashnikov series.

'Sher' will become the primary assault rifle for soldiers deployed along the northern and western borders, including the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control, replacing the INSAS in service.

It is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, select-fire assault rifle.  It is a version of the AK-200 rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm cartridge used in the Indian Army.

The weapon has the traditional advantages of Kalashnikov assault rifles: reliability and ease of maintenance.

Features of the AK-203 Rifle Weighing 3.8 kg, this rifle measures between 880 mm and 940 mm in length when the stock is fully extended, while the barrel itself is 415 mm long. Its operation relies on a gas-operated mechanism with a rotating bolt, enabling a firing rate of approximately 700 rounds per minute.

With an initial velocity of 715 m/s, the AK-203 has an effective firing range of 400 to 800 meters, depending on the sight adjustments.

The weapon uses a detachable 30-round box magazine, but a 50-round quad-column magazine is also available for those needing increased capacity. It features adjustable iron sights, and picatinny rails are included for the attachment of various optical sighting systems.