New Delhi: Kerala Police has shortlisted the Indo-Russia joint venture product, the AK-203 Assault Rifles, for procurement as part of its modernisation process. If procured, Kerala Police would become the first non-military agency to field the upgraded Kalashnikov.
Sources in the defence and security establishment told ThePrint that the tender is for 250 units of the domestically-manufactured AK-203, with the deal valued at Rs. 2.25 crore.
This acquisition is a component of a larger project meant to modernise the standard-issue firearms used by the police force, the sources said. Interestingly, while it has called for bids for firearms, it has specifically mentioned the AK-203 in the tender.
The only manufacturer of the AK-203 is the joint venture called Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), which involves Russian stakeholders Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov Group in addition to two domestic firms—Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL).
The cooperation combines Russian technological competence with Indian production capacity.
The tender for AK-203 rifles was floated on 31 March. In a statement on Telegram on 15 April, the Russian Embassy in India confirmed that IRRPL would be participating.
Earlier this year, India proposed exporting the AK-203 to Nepal as a replacement for the outdated INSAS platform, signalling a broader ambition to standardise modern assault rifles across allied regional forces
The Indian Army now has about one lakh AK-203 rifles on hand, plus another 70,000 more on order. Apart from military acceptance, some states are looking into the AK-203 for use by their police forces and commando units.
The Kerala Police’s arsenal currently includes AK-47s, INSAS rifles, self-loading rifles and Ghatak rifles. The German-manufactured Heckler and Koch MP5 submachine gun, with an order of 20 units in 2020, is the most contemporary weapon currently in operation. The police also carry firearms from other foreign manufacturers.
Unlike the long-serving INSAS rifle, chambered with a 5.56 mm cartridge and frequently critiqued for its ergonomics and maintenance, the AK-203 makes use of the stronger 7.62×39 mm bullet. Its design emphasises its flexibility in several combat situations by supporting 30-round detachable box magazines as well as 50-round quad-column magazines.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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