AK-203

The AK-203 is a Russian gas-operated assault rifle designed to chamber the 7.62×39mm cartridge. It is one of the latest iterations of the AK series of assault rifles originally designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. The AK-203 was developed in the 2010s by Kalashnikov Concern in Russia.

History
The prototype development of the AK-200 series began in 2007. The first prototype of the AK-200 was developed and tested in 2010. In 2013, for the Ratnik programme AK-200 was modified and renamed as AK-103-3. In 2016, AK-200 series project was revived and upgraded the AK-103-3 assault rifle prototype with KM-AK kit developed as part of the Obves programme. The upgraded assault rifle prototype was initially designated as AK-300 and then as AK-100M and finally in 2019 as AK-203.

On March 3, 2019, Russia and India inaugurated Indo-Russia Rifles in Uttar Pradesh. However, pricing disagreements, and international sanctions on Russia have caused delays in delivery and production.

The Indian Army is procuring 670,000 AK-203 assault rifles to replace the INSAS. The first 70,000 rifles were purchased from Russia in August 2021 with deliveries made on January 25, 2022. The remaining 600,000 rifles will be manufactured under a transfer of technology agreement.

In an interview with Maria Vorobieva, Director of Kalashnikov Concern's Public Relations Department in October 2021, she said that some Asian nations, including the CIS, are acquiring the AK-203.

In October 21, 2022, full production of AK-203s was announced at Defexpo 2022.

On February 3, 2023, it was reported by Alexander Mikheev, director general of Rosoboronexport, that the first batch of AK-203s were completed at Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. On October 12, 2023, it was reported that Kalashnikov Concern completed shipment of machinery and tools for India to manufacture AK-203s.

It was announced on July 5, 2024 that 35,000 rifles have been produced by the IRRPL and delivered to the Indian Ministry of Defence.

Design
The AK-203 is chambered for 7.62×39 and it uses AK-type magazines. It weighs 3.8 kg, and has a length of 690 mm with the stock folded, or 930 mm with it extended. Its rate of fire is 700 rounds per minute.

Users

 * 🇮🇳 India: Total 670,000 rifles planned. 70,000 would be purchased off the shelf, directly from Russia and the remaining 600,000 would be manufactured in India under ToT. On 25 January 2022, the first batch of 70,000 AK-203s delivered to Indian Army. Licensed production started in January 2023. Between May and July 2024, another batch of 35,000 rifles were delivered by Indo-Russia Rifles.
 * 🇷🇺 Russia: In limited use by Russian Special Forces.