Adani Defence signs 5-year ammunition supply pact with Indo-Russian Rifles for AK-203 programme

Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) to supply indigenous 7.62x39 mm small-calibre ammunition for the AK-203 assault rifle programme, bringing rifle production and ammunition sourcing under an India-based supply arrangement.

The agreement covers ammunition supplies for the AK-203 over five years and provides IRRPL with an Indian source for the ammunition required for the programme. The pact links IRRPL’s AK-203 rifle manufacturing operations with Adani Defence’s small-calibre ammunition production capabilities, creating an integrated domestic supply chain for the assault rifle programme.

AK-203 programme backed by 6 lakh-plus rifle order

IRRPL was incorporated in 2019 under an India-Russia intergovernmental agreement to manufacture AK-203 assault rifles in India for the Indian Armed Forces. Its manufacturing facility is located at Korwa in Amethi district, Uttar Pradesh.

The joint venture has Indian shareholders Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and Munitions India Ltd, along with Russian shareholders Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport. The Ministry of Defence has identified IRRPL as the joint venture established for indigenous production of the AK-203.

In December 2021, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with IRRPL for 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles, with the weapons to be manufactured at the Korwa facility. The size of the order makes ammunition availability a critical component of the programme’s production and supply chain.

Adani expands role in small-calibre ammunition

Adani Defence has established manufacturing capabilities for small-calibre ammunition in India, including a facility in Kanpur with production capacity for such ammunition. The new agreement gives the company a five-year supply arrangement linked to the AK-203 programme while providing IRRPL with a domestic source for 7.62x39 mm ammunition.

The pact comes as India seeks to increase domestic manufacturing across defence platforms, components and ammunition and reduce reliance on imports. For the AK-203 programme, the arrangement creates a more integrated Indian supply chain spanning the manufacture of the rifle and a key consumable required for its operation.

The agreement also adds to the localisation of the AK-203 ecosystem under the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat objective, with both the rifle and ammunition being produced through manufacturing capabilities established in India.