India and Russia will sign an inter-governmental agreement on Friday for a joint venture to manufacture the iconic Kalashnikov rifle, popularly known as AK-47, at ordnance factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh (UP). The contract worth over Rs 12,000 crore is for more than seven lakh rifles, which will replace the currently used INSAS rifles by the Army.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the project at the factory on February 28, and President Vladimir Putin is likely to announce handing over at least 1,000 readymade rifles through video conferencing.
The AK-203 rifles, the latest in the series of the AK-47 rifle, will be manufactured under a transfer of technology pact with Russia and an Indian Major General will head the project, officials said on Thursday while giving details about the ambitious project. The two countries will also ink an agreement to explore possibilities to export rifles produced in Amethi to friendly foreign countries, they said.
Elaborating upon the reason for opting for AK or Kalashnikov rifles, officials said this weapon has proved its mettle for the last 60 years as it is rugged, almost defect proof, easy to handle, requires little training, easy to carry and adaptable to all kinds of operations. The proposed rifles to be manufactured will be 7.62 mm and will replace the current 5.56 mm INSAS rifles used by the army besides para-military forces. Moreover, almost 100 per cent Indian contents, including metallurgy besides other items needed for rifle manufacturing will figure in the proposed contract as part of ‘Make in India’ of the present NDA Government, they said.
Once this project takes off, the plan is to manufacture 12 lakh more AK-23 rifles for the para-military forces. Currently, the army and the para-military forces import AK series of rifles from Bulgaria and Romania.
During negotiations last year for the deal, the Adani group was proposed by Russia given the fact that India wanted to involve private sector in manufacturing state of the art weapons, However, the Indian Government rejected the offer and opted for a joint venture between Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Russia, sources said.
As regards appointing a Major General, most probably from the infantry, to oversee the project at Amethi, they said he will be able to guide the management about the nitty gritty of the rifles needed by the Army. Giving an example, they also said some docks manufacturing warships in India for the Navy have a retired Rear Admiral with experience in ship building as the head and this has proved successful.
Incidentally, India inked a contract on Tuesday for buying 73,000 Sig Sauer rifles manufactured by a US company on fast track basis. These rifles will be inducted within a year and the total deal is worth over Rs 700 crore. Most of the rifles will be issued to frontline troops deployed on the LoC with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control facing China.
