Small arms of India

[Bhadra]

....................
India’s choice of AK-203 was influenced by the rifle’s modern design and potency. It was selected over other AK series of rifles – AK-103, AK-103 (Modernised) and AK-15 – which were all evaluated by a team of Army officials who, along with OFB officials, visited the Kalashnikov manufacturing centre in Russia in early December 2018. The Army found that the AK-203 has better accuracy, more picatinny rails (required for mounting various types of day/night sights and grenade launcher on the rifle), reduced flash and recoil, better ergonomics and greater ease of operation in combat. The AK-203 was developed in 2016 and supplied to the Russian armed forces in 2018. India will be the first country to which Russia would be transferring the design/manufacturing of this rifle. The signing of the IGA and the formation of the JV have finally brought to an end a decade-long saga involving an arduous process for inducting a modern rifle for the Indian armed forces.

 

[Bhadra]

Boost to Make in India
While the Army will finally get its long-waited weapon, the AK-203 is also an attractive proposition for the Make in India initiative, and for the OFB in particular. The objective of higher indigenisation, as enshrined in the Make in India programme, is set to be achieved in the course of producing the rifle in India. As per the IGA, the indigenous content (IC) is to be progressively increased in each phase of production. All rifles to be produced beyond the first 120,000 will have 100 per cent indigenous content (see Table 1). More significantly, 100 per cent indigenisation is to be achieved in 32 months from the contract date, and all the future technological upgrades to the rifles, as and when required, will be done by the JV in India. The OFB, which is facing increasing competition from the private sector, could not have asked for more as it is assured of nearly Rs 5,000 crores of order through the production of the AK-203. Moreover, given that the JV is a first involving an ordnance factory, it will open up opportunities for the OFB to explore other international partnerships to stay ahead of its competitors.

Table 1. Planned Indigenisation of AK-203


Phase No of Rifles Indigenisation Level (%)

1 20,000 5-15

2 20,000 15-30

3 40,000 30-70

4 40,000 70-100

5 Balance No 100

 

[Bhadra]

The major beneficiary of the AK-203 deal is clearly the Ordnance Factory Korwa which was set up in 2007 with a sanctioned investment of Rs 408 crore to manufacture Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine under Transfer of Technology (ToT). Earlier, because of the non-fructification of ToT due to a variety of reasons, the factory, which has over 200 employees on its payroll, has been operating well below capacity, with output limited to the manufacture of low-value Bore Action Guns for the Ministry of Home Affair and State Police Forces, and various parts and components for sister factories (see Table 2). With a voluminous order of Rs 5000 crore and an annual targeted production of 75,000 rifles, the company will be able to fully utilise its available production capacity for at least a decade. With its volume of business set to increase by nearly 30 times on an average in the next 10 years, it may well seek an expansion of its present capacity. The order will also allow the factory to play the role of an anchor investor for creating a local supply-chain for parts and components, which will create employment opportunities and boost economic growth in and around Korwa. More significantly, with an order to manufacture the most contemporary rifle in the world, the factory stands a good chance of becoming the centre for small arms manufacturing in the country besides breaking into the lucrative export market.

Table 2. Value of Production of Ordnance Factory Korwa


Year
2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

Rs in Crore

0.9

2.6

6.6

10

17.9

 

[Bhadra]

India’s current and future security environment necessitate the continued deployment of security forces, especially the Army, in a highly lethal environment involving both conventional and sub-conventional war. With the AK-203, the Army’s long search for a modern assault rifle to deal with multiple challenges has finally come to a successful end. The rifle’s proven lethality, accuracy, reliability, and advanced features would give every soldier in possession of the weapon the necessary confidence and morale to take on a wide spectrum of challenges effectively and efficiency. The fact that the rifle would be produced in India with 100 per cent indigenous content in less than three years makes it a win-win deal for the Army and the Make in India initiative, with Ordnance Factory Korwa emerging as the biggest winner.

 

[Kay]

OFB is inefficient. There may be corruption at some level as well for shoddy quality parts procurement. OFB suffers from bad quality, lack of innovation, apathy of workers and management, etc.
On the other hand OFB does not have any funds for promotions, marketing and other ways of sweetening any deal.
So, the truth is perhaps somewhere in the middle.
The best option for India would have been forming a JV between DRDO, OFB and some Indian private farm similar to ATAGs and continue the INSAS rifle line. That would have eliminated most quality, aesthetic and ergonomic issues without resorting to import.

 

[Kay]

OFB is inefficient. There may be corruption at some level as well for shoddy quality parts procurement. OFB suffers from bad quality, lack of innovation, apathy of workers and management, etc.
On the other hand OFB does not have any funds for promotions, marketing and other ways of sweetening any deal.
So, the truth is perhaps somewhere in the middle.
The best option for India would have been forming a JV between DRDO, OFB and some Indian private farm similar to ATAGs and continue the INSAS rifle line. That would have eliminated most quality, aesthetic and ergonomic issues without resorting to import.

The Caracal import will have one important benefit - the TOT for short strike piston rifle manufacturing in India - because AKs, INSAS, Tavors all have long stroke piston and it it seems army has decided SSP is the way forward.
DRDO / OFB should now focus on next generation rifles - which will in all probability will use polymer cased telescopic ammo. US is trying the same with 6.8 mm SPC rounds, which will eliminate the need of having three different calibers.

 

[devhensh]

https://idsa.in/idsacomments/ak-203-make-in-india_chinoy-lkbehera-110319

The highlighted portion, perhaps provides the answer, of why India has finalized AK-203 over AK-15. There are few questions though :

1. AK-203 is an improved version of AK-103, and was supposed to be an Interim solution, till AK-15 was production ready. Now that AK-15(along with AK-12) is adopted by Russia, won't they stop production and further development of AK-203 ?

So, is it the classical case of old version/ model being passed to other countries ...while Russian forces use the latest version (AK-15)?

2.The article concludes that AK-203, is overall a better rifle than all AK variants (including the latest AK-15) and this was the reason it was choosen.

But Russia has already started to induct AK-15 (and AK-12) after long trials . So obviously, they concluded that AK-15 is a better rifle(in 7.62x39) between the two ..Was this not something that should have been considered ?

 

[binayak95]

https://idsa.in/idsacomments/ak-203-make-in-india_chinoy-lkbehera-110319
View attachment 34466

The highlighted portion, perhaps provides the answer, of why India has finalized AK-203 over AK-15. There are few questions though :

1. AK-203 is an improved version of AK-103, and was supposed to be an Interim solution, till AK-15 was production ready. Now that AK-15(along with AK-12) is adopted by Russia, won't they stop production and further development of AK-203 ?

So, is it the classical case of old version/ model being passed to other countries ...while Russian forces use the latest version (AK-15)?

2.The article concludes that AK-203, is overall a better rifle than all AK variants (including the latest AK-15) and this was the reason it was choosen.

But Russia has already started to induct AK-15 (and AK-12) after long trials . So obviously, they concluded that AK-15 is a better rifle(in 7.62x39) between the two ..Was this not something that should have been considered ?

Russian armed forces use the 5.45x39 a lot more - which leads to the new rifles being significantly lighter and yet feel very low recoiling.

The AK15 is lighter by a significant margin over the AK203 - and that serves fine when you're firing 5.45.

7.62 is a bigger dog, and a heavier rifle will feel more controllable and accurate though it might not necessarily be more accurate.

Plus, the AK203 retains the old mid way rear sight of the old AKs, something that Indian soldiers are quite familiar and comfortable with. A ready backup sight should your optics fail or get otherwise damaged.

I am sure there might have been other considerations. Price, for one? Why go for the latest, when a slightly older yet perfectly suitable rifle is available for lesser.

 

[Bhadra]

OFB is inefficient. There may be corruption at some level as well for shoddy quality parts procurement. OFB suffers from bad quality, lack of innovation, apathy of workers and management, etc.

Right. Then who is responsible to set it right - Army ? Do you know how many additional secretary and joint secretary post are there under OFB ? How many Secretaries, additional Secretary, Joint Secretaries and other Babus are there is Deptt of Def Production?

On the other hand OFB does not have any funds for promotions, marketing and other ways of sweetening any deal.

Really, what they make which is required to be marketed. Do not tell me the Babus are not making any thing out of OFB?
How many Guest houses does OFB maintain? How much money is spend on accounts and audits? How many free lunches and gravy trains are organised. How many schools and so called welfare funds are run?
Why does OFB overcharge the Army? Where does the overcharged money go?

So, the truth is perhaps somewhere in the middle.

Thank God you said in "middle" rather than saying there is no story.

The best option for India would have been forming a JV between DRDO, OFB and some Indian private farm similar to ATAGs and continue the INSAS rifle line. That would have eliminated most quality, aesthetic and ergonomic issues without resorting to import.

DRDO at least is doing some shoshagiri . You want to finish them too ?

Can you please tell me why revenue expenditure - fentastic pay and parks of such a multitude of forces - MoD, OFB, DRDO etc be debited to Defence budget ?

 

[devhensh]

Russian armed forces use the 5.45x39 a lot more - which leads to the new rifles being significantly lighter and yet feel very low recoiling.

The AK15 is lighter by a significant margin over the AK203 - and that serves fine when you're firing 5.45.

7.62 is a bigger dog, and a heavier rifle will feel more controllable and accurate though it might not necessarily be more accurate.

Plus, the AK203 retains the old mid way rear sight of the old AKs, something that Indian soldiers are quite familiar and comfortable with. A ready backup sight should your optics fail or get otherwise damaged.

I am sure there might have been other considerations. Price, for one? Why go for the latest, when a slightly older yet perfectly suitable rifle is available for lesser.

All Valid points .......Just that AK-15 is in 7.62x39, and not 5.45x39 ....Just like AK-203...So even though AK-15 is lighter, it has to be a controllable rifle, otherwise Russian forces wouldn't have adopted it...

AK -12 is in 5.45x39 and Russia has inducted both....Two rifles for two calibers ....But i will conclude by saying that our Army knows the best !!!

 

[MuzzleVelocity]

All Valid points .......Just that AK-15 is in 7.62x39, and not 5.45x39 ....Just like AK-203...So even though AK-15 is lighter, it has to be a controllable rifle, otherwise Russian forces wouldn't have adopted it...

AK -12 is in 5.45x39 and Russia has inducted both....Two rifles for two calibers ....But i will conclude by saying that our Army knows the best !!!

If it helps to put your mind at ease, AK-203 is used by Russian Special Forces.

 

[devhensh]

If it helps to put your mind at ease, AK-203 is used by Russian Special Forces.

I have nothing against AK-203....On the contrary, i have written above, that Indian Army knows the best ...as nobody else knows their operational requirements better than them....

But this is also a fact, that Russian army has inducted just two rifles (AK-12 and AK-15)...So logic dictates that they will use /replace with AK-15 wherever 7.62x39mm caliber is required.

 

[WolfPack86]

#IndianArmy 12 PARA SF ( The Dirty Dozen ) Commando carrying IWI NEGEV LMG 5.56 mm with mounted IWI X4 day sight & laser designator during Tri Service Special Forces Joint Exercise. This Negev belongs to IAF Garud.

 

[MuzzleVelocity]

#IndianArmy 12 PARA SF ( The Dirty Dozen ) Commando carrying IWI NEGEV LMG 5.56 mm with mounted IWI X4 day sight & laser designator during Tri Service Special Forces Joint Exercise. This Negev belongs to IAF Garud.

Woah ! Do you have more images of this exercise?

 

[sydsnyper]

The US Army is interested (probably even on the way to acquiring the weapon system) in the Brügger & Thomet APC9K, as the 9mm alternative to the MP5.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/armys-new-machine-gun-can-really-do-some-serious-damage-54672

 

[Johny_Baba]

Still ak based One OFB need ti grow up desgin something with rotating Bolt mechanism

Bhai AK is a rotating bolt gun.

Perhaps you meant Stoner pattern multi-lug rotating bolt that is mostly used in AR-10/15 and the derivatives ?

This is AK's bolt.

This is AR's Bolt.

 

[darshan978]

Bhai AK is a rotating bolt gun.

Perhaps you meant Stoner pattern multi-lug rotating bolt that is mostly used in AR-10/15 and the derivatives ?

This is AK's bolt.

This is AR's Bolt.

Never argue with the idiots...
Many ppl here have inferiority complex here.
Whatever indian made is trash and ... Foreign maal is best,I have seen this,they praise ak203 but bashing this ak based good design...

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

Best looking and best performing Indian rifle so far. Only God knows why it was cancelled when we had this world class product at our hand. If only 7.62 mm*39 version was chosen instead of AK-203

 

[rone]

Never argue with the idiots...
Many ppl here have inferiority complex here.
Whatever indian made is trash and ... Foreign maal is best,I have seen this,they praise ak203 but bashing this ak based good design...

nobody says made in India is trash, what i said OFB have to invest more on their R&D plz don't start a wild goose chase,

 

[ezsasa]

Best looking and best performing Indian rifle so far. Only God knows why it was cancelled when we had this world class product at our hand. If only 7.62 mm*39 version was chosen instead of AK-203

How is it a world class product when you haven't seen it firing even once? i haven't seen it , have you?
just because ARDE and OFB guys get from friendly journos to write some puff pieces, doesn't make it world class...