Soldiers to finally get new AK-203 assault rifles to replace old rifles

Army soldiers will now finally get modern assault rifles in bulk. The long-pending project to manufacture over six lakh AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles at the Korwa ordnance factory in Amethi district of UP has kicked off after being stuck over costing, technology transfer and indigenous levels. The first lot of 5,000 AK-203 rifles, out of the total of 6,01,427 to be manufactured over a 10-year period for Rs 5,124 crore, will be delivered to the 12-lakh strong Army by March, as per General Manoj Pande.