Adani Defence to supply ammunition for India's AK-203 rifle programme

Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a five-year agreement with Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt Ltd to supply indigenously produced ammunition for the AK-203 rifle programme, marking a significant step towards establishing an integrated domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Under the pact, Adani Defence will manufacture 7.62x39 mm small-calibre ammunition required for the assault rifles over the contract period. The arrangement ensures continuity of ammunition supply while creating an indigenous sourcing alternative for the India-Russia defence collaboration programme.

Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt Ltd, established in 2019 through an India-Russia intergovernmental agreement, manufactures AK-203 rifles at its facility in Korwa, Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh. The new agreement links rifle production with ammunition manufacturing within India's defence industrial base, consolidating two critical components of the AK-203 programme under domestic control.

The partnership reflects India's broader push to reduce dependence on imported defence supplies and leverage private sector capabilities in strategic weapons manufacturing. By coupling IRRPL's rifle production with Adani Defence's ammunition manufacturing, the arrangement aims to create a self-sufficient supply chain for one of the Indian Armed Forces' key small arms programmes.