Kalashnikov plant in India produces first batch of rifles

The Russian-Indian joint venture for the production of AK-203 assault rifles has produced the first batch, said Dmitry Shugaev, director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC). This product is currently being tested.

“The organization of production in India of AK-203 assault rifles is carried out in accordance with contract documents, their mass production has been launched. The first batch of assault rifles has been manufactured, which is currently being tested,” the TASS agency quotes his speech at the International Aerospace Exhibition Dubai Airshow 2023 ( The exhibition runs from November 13 to 17).

The Russian-Indian joint venture IRRPL for the production of AK-203 was created at a plant near the city of Korva in the Amethi district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Its creation was announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2019. The production of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles at the enterprise began, according to the press service of Rosoboronexport, in January of this year.

The director of the FSMTC also spoke about the progress of creating a joint enterprise with Russia for the production of Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela. As Dmitry Shugaev reported, construction and installation work is underway there.

“Currently, construction and installation work at the enterprise being created for the licensed production of Kalashnikov assault rifles in Venezuela continues in accordance with the calendar schedules agreed with the partners. There are mutual obligations of the parties to resolve technical and organizational issues,” he said, expressing confidence that the parties "will make every effort to launch the facility on time."
In May 2022, TASS agency reported that Kalashnikov press service had encountered difficulties in organizing the supplies required for the project's implementation. These problems question the start of production in the same year, as initially planned.

At SPIEF 2022, Kalashnikov President Alan Lushnikov expressed his confidence in the successful completion of construction. In October 2023, at the First Russian Arms Forum, he confirmed the concern's commitment to implementing the project.

TASS notes that Russia has participated in the premier global aerospace exhibition, the Dubai Airshow, since 1993, held biennially.