Adani Defence and Aerospace has signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). IRRPL is an Indo-Russian joint venture that manufactures the AK-203 assault rifle in India. Under this agreement, Adani Defence and Aerospace will supply indigenous 7.62×39 mm small-caliber ammunition for the AK-203 program. This agreement creates an integrated supply chain in India, linking IRRPL’s AK-203 rifle manufacturing with Adani Defence and Aerospace’s ammunition production.
Under the agreement, Adani Defence and Aerospace will supply 7.62×39 mm ammunition for the AK-203 over a period of five years. This arrangement provides an Indian source for the ammunition required by the program and helps ensure a continuous supply throughout the contract term. IRRPL was established in 2019 under an inter-governmental agreement between India and Russia with the objective of manufacturing AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces. Its manufacturing facility is located at Korwa in the Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh.
The joint venture includes Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and Munitions India Limited as Indian shareholders, while Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport serve as Russian shareholders. The Ministry of Defence has designated IRRPL as the joint venture established for the indigenous production of the AK-203. A contract for 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles was signed with IRRPL in December 2021. These rifles are to be manufactured in Korwa. Adani Defence and Aerospace has developed capabilities for manufacturing small-caliber ammunition in India; this includes a manufacturing facility in Kanpur equipped for small-caliber ammunition production. This agreement further strengthens India’s domestic capabilities within the small-arms supply chain and helps advance the objective of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) in defence manufacturing.
