AK 203
India, Russia conclude deal for AK-203 rifles, extend military cooperation till 2031
New Delhi: India and Russia on Monday concluded the long pending deal worth around Rs 5,000 crore for manufacturing nearly 6 lakh AK-203 rifles under a joint venture in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, and also signed an agreement to extend military technology cooperation for the next decade, from 2021 till 2031.
The contracts and agreement were signed after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu held the 20th meeting of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation, said sources.
Singh termed Russia as India’s long-standing special and privileged strategic partner and said that the relations were time-tested & based on common interests in multilateralism, global peace and prosperity, mutual understanding and trust.
The two sides signed a Protocol on Amending the Agreement between India and Russia on cooperation in the field of Kalashnikov Series Small Arms Manufacturing, a contract for procurement of over 6 lakh AK-203 Assault Rifles through the joint venture Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited, and an agreement on Program for Military Technical Cooperation from 2021-2031, said sources.
AK-203, a gas-operated, magazine-fed and select fire assault rifle designated to chamber 7.62x39mm cartridge, is one of the latest iterations of the AK series of assault rifles originally designed by Soviet and Russian military engineer and small arms designer Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, who is most famous for developing the AK-47 assault rifles.
Meanwhile, a protocol of the 20th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission of Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) was also signed by the two Defence Ministers, the sources added.
Rajnath Singh called defence cooperation one of the most important pillars of the bilateral partnership.
"India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation has been a well-established mechanism for the last two decades. It provides a platform to discuss and implement mutually agreed agenda for defence cooperation," Rajnath Singh said.
"I wish to acknowledge with respect your valuable personal contribution to strengthen our bilateral defence cooperation," Singh added.
Singh also expressed hope that Russia will remain a major partner for India in these changing circumstances.
"From the Ministry of Defence, we have urged for greater military-technical collaboration, advanced research, co-development and co-production of defence equipment leading to self-reliance of India," said the Indian Defence Minister, adding that "separately, we proposed greater engagements in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean region."
Rajnath Singh also said India is a continuation of the vast Eurasian landmass and at the same time central in the enormous Indian Ocean region, and he hoped for Russia's cooperation in all domains.
(With UNI inputs)
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