Adani Defence Partners with Indo-Russian Firm for AK-203 Ammunition Supply
Strategic Agreement for Ammunition Supply
Photo: IANS
New Delhi, Sep 5: Adani Defence & Aerospace has entered into a five-year contract with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), a joint venture focused on the production of AK-203 assault rifles in India. This agreement aims to provide locally manufactured 7.62x39 mm small-calibre ammunition for the project, as announced on Saturday.
As part of this collaboration, Adani Defence will deliver the necessary 7.62x39 mm ammunition for the AK-203 rifles over the next five years.
This partnership ensures a reliable Indian source for the required ammunition, thereby maintaining a steady supply throughout the duration of the contract.
The agreement effectively integrates the production of AK-203 rifles by IRRPL with the ammunition manufacturing capabilities of Adani Defence, fostering a cohesive supply chain within India.
Moreover, this initiative enhances domestic production capabilities across the small-arms supply chain and aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at boosting self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
IRRPL was established in 2019 under an intergovernmental agreement between India and Russia to produce AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian Armed Forces.
The manufacturing facility is situated in Korwa, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
This joint venture includes Indian stakeholders such as Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and Munitions India Limited, alongside Russian partners Concern Kalashnikov and Rosoboronexport.
The Ministry of Defence has recognized IRRPL as the designated joint venture for the indigenous production of AK-203 rifles. A contract for the supply of 601,427 AK-203 rifles was finalized with IRRPL in December 2021, with production set to occur at the Korwa facility.
Adani Defence & Aerospace has developed its own manufacturing capabilities for small-calibre ammunition in India, including a facility in Kanpur designed for this purpose.
In July, Adani Defence also signed a significant agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the AEW&C-MKII, which is India's next-generation Airborne Early Warning and Control programme.
This initiative marks Adani Defence as the first private Indian entity to be tasked with the development, integration, and lifecycle support of such a complex airborne mission platform. Together with DRDO, Adani Defence will work on the development, manufacturing, and integration of airborne mission systems on six modified Airbus A321 aircraft for the Indian Air Force.
The programme will also encompass integrated logistics, maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and technical support for a period of up to 30 years.