Korwa/Delhi: A delegation of over 25 defence journalists from Delhi visited the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) factory located in Korwa, Uttar Pradesh, on July 17, 2025. The team was hosted by Major General S.K. Sharma, CEO and Managing Director of IRRPL, who briefed the delegation on the production milestones and strategic vision of the Indo-Russian joint venture.
During the interaction, Maj Gen Sharma highlighted IRRPL’s significant progress in manufacturing the AK-203 assault rifles in India. He stated that the company aims to achieve 100% indigenisation of the AK-203 rifles by December 31, 2025, after which the rifle will be rechristened as AK-203 ‘Sher’ – symbolising India’s ownership of the design and production.
Maj Gen Sharma informed that IRRPL has already delivered over 48,000 rifles to the Indian Army and is planning to scale up production to 1.5 lakh rifles annually by next year to meet the long-term needs of the Indian defence forces.
He further added that with increased production capabilities, IRRPL is also targeting the export market, besides catering to Indian paramilitary and state police forces. “Our goal is to make IRRPL one of the top 5 assault rifle manufacturing companies in the world by 2030,” he asserted.
Following the factory briefing, the visiting journalists were given a demonstration at the IRRPL firing range, where they observed the performance of the rifles and interacted with officials for deeper technical insights.
IRRPL is a unique Indo-Russian joint venture, showcasing robust bilateral cooperation in defence manufacturing. The venture includes three senior officials from the Indian Army—including the CEO & MD—while also employing permanent Russian experts and Indian Army veterans. The factory in Korwa also plays a crucial role in generating local employment, particularly benefiting the youth and residents of the region.
The visit offered a first-hand look into India’s advancing self-reliance in defence production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and underscored IRRPL’s growing role in strengthening the nation’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
