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{{Infobox company
| name = Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited
| logo =
| type =
| fate =
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| website = https://irrpl.co.in/
}}
'''Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited''' (IRRPL) is a rifle-manufacturing facility in [[Korwa, Uttar Pradesh|Korwa]], [[Amethi district]] in the Indian state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. Founded in 2019, the factory
==History==
The Indian armed forces had been equipped with a locally produced licensed copy<ref>"UK and Commonwealth FALs, by R. Blake Stevens, Collector Grade Publications, 1980, pages 231–233</ref> of the [[L1A1 self-loading rifle]]s from the late 1950s.<ref name="Cutshaw2011">{{cite book|author=Charles Q. Cutshaw|title=Tactical Small Arms of the 21st Century: A Complete Guide to Small Arms From Around the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wcsDuwEACAAJ|accessdate=28 May 2014|date=28 February 2011|publisher=Gun Digest Books|isbn=978-1-4402-2482-9|page=207}}</ref> In the mid-1980s, a decision was taken to develop a 5.56×45mm NATO calibre rifle to replace the obsolete rifles. Trials on various prototypes based on the [[AKM]] were carried out by the [[Armament Research and Development Establishment]] (ARDE) in [[Pune]]. On the completion of the trial, The [[INSAS rifle|Indian Small Arms System]] (INSAS) was adopted in 1990, becoming the standard-issue assault rifle of the Indian infantry. However, to phase out the still in use bolt-action [[Lee–Enfield]] rifles as quickly as possible, India had to acquire 100,000 7.62×39mm AKM-type rifles from Russia, Hungary, Romania and Israel in 1990–92.<ref name="Walter2006">{{cite book|author=John Walter|title=Rifles of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6x0tuQEACAAJ|accessdate=28 May 2014|date=25 March 2006|publisher=Krause Publications|isbn=0-89689-241-7|pages=209–210}}</ref>
The INSAS was initially built with features borrowed from several different rifles and was not made to meet the specific requirements of the Indian security forces. This design, while serving the Army for over 30 years, started to fall behind the needs of modern warfare.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Datta|first=Saikat|title=Why is the Indian Army still using outdated assault rifles designed in the 1980s?|url=https://scroll.in/article/842307/why-is-the-indian-army-still-using-outdated-assault-rifles-designed-in-the-1980s|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Scroll.in|date=4 July 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> In recent years the rifle has come under increasing scrutiny, with several issues surfacing from frontline forces that have inhibited operational capabilities. For example, the plastic magazine of the rifle has repeatedly cracked under cold weather conditions and has reportedly even overheated during long battles leading to malfunctions, making it an unreliable choice for a standard-issue rifle.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beckhusen|first=Robert|date=2016-08-31|title=India's Anti-Terror Troops Despise Their Assault Rifle|url=https://medium.com/war-is-boring/indias-anti-terror-troops-despise-their-assault-rifle-3fcafa392aaa|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref>
Due to these repeated downfalls, In April 2015, the Indian government had to replace some INSAS rifles of the [[Central Reserve Police Force|CRPF]] with AKM variants to ensure greater success in the CRPF's fight against [[Naxalites]].<ref name="AK-47sTeethPio">{{cite news|title=AK-47s to arm CRPF to teeth|url=http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/ak-47s-to-arm-crpf-to-teeth.html|accessdate=23 February 2016|work=Daily Pioneer|date=25 April 2015}}</ref> Therefore, owing to these failures and the changing needs of the armed forces, it was announced in early 2017 that the INSAS rifles would be retired and replaced by a weapon capable of firing [[7.62×51mm NATO]] cartridges.<ref name="RetirementAndReplacement">{{cite news|title=INSAS rifles to retire; to be replaced by imported weapons|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/insas-rifles-to-retire-to-be-replaced-by-imported-weapons/articleshow/57479939.cms|accessdate=16 April 2017|date=5 March 2017|work=The Economic Times}}</ref>
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The IRRPL has been licensed to produce 600000 [[AK-203]] assault rifles chambered for 7.62×39mm. The AK-203 is a modernized 200 series [[AK-103]] variant and one of the modern derivatives of the Russian [[Kalashnikov rifle|AK-Pattern]] series of assault rifles. The 200 series are technically based on the [[AK-100 (rifle family)|AK-100 family]] and the more expensive [[AK-12]] rifle family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://modernfirearms.net/en/assault-rifles/ak-200-2/|title=200 series Kalashnikov assault rifle: AK-200, AK-201, AK-202, AK-203, AK-204, AK-205 (Russia)|website=modernfirearms.net|date=7 June 2018}}</ref> The AK-203 is reported as the newest version of the [[AK-47]] assault rifle.<ref name="Indian Express">{{cite news|title=Explained: The new AK-203, and its legendary ancestor, the AK-47|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-new-ak-203-and-its-legendary-ancestor-the-ak-47-5611205/|accessdate=5 March 2019|work=The Indian Express|date=5 March 2019|language=en-IN}}</ref>
During the Defence Expo 2020 in Lucknow, Major General Sengar announced that the IRRPL facility in Amethi would produce 75,000 AK-203 annually for 10 years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/february_2020_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/ak-203_to_become_organic_assault_rifle_of_indian_armed_forces.html#google_vignette | title=AK-203 to become organic assault rifle of Indian armed forces | date=14 February 2020 }}</ref>
It was announced that 670,000 AK-203 rifles will be produced for the Indian military.<ref>{{cite news|last=Philip|first=Snehesh Alex|date=31 August 2020|title=India and Russia set to close deal for over 6 lakh AK 203 rifles, full scale production has already started since August 2023|work=ThePrint|url=https://theprint.in/defence/india-and-russia-set-to-close-deal-for-over-6-lakh-ak-203-rifles-production-to-start-soon/492219/|access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref> Production of the AK-203 started on 17 January 2023.<ref>{{cite
In May 2024, first batch of 27,000 rifles were delivered while another batch of 8,000 would be delivered "soon". The level of indigenous content achieved is 25%.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peri |first=Dinakar |date=2024-05-19 |title=Indo-Russian joint venture handed over 27,000 Ak-203 assault rifles to Indian Army |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indo-russian-joint-venture-handed-over-27000-ak-203-assault-rifles-to-indian-army/article68193891.ece |access-date=2024-05-20 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In July 2024, the expected 8,000 units were delivered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2024-07-05 |title=Ahead of
==Ownership==
The factory is a [[joint venture]] between three companies. As of 2023, AWEIL owns the controlling stakes at 42.5% with Munitions India Limited at a 8%, [[Kalashnikov Concern]] at 42% and [[Rosoboronexport]] at 7.5%.<ref>https://www.ddpmod.gov.in/sites/default/files/vacancy%20circular.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref>
An Indian CEO from the Indian Army leads the company.<ref name="theprint1">{{cite news |last1=Philip |first1=Snehesh Alex |title=PM Modi inaugurates Indo-Russian joint venture, which will end Army's long quest for rifles |url=https://theprint.in/defence/pm-modi-inaugurates-indo-russian-joint-venture-which-will-end-armys-long-quest-for-rifles/200792/ |accessdate=4 March 2019 |work=The Print |date=3 March 2019}}</ref> Major General SK Sharma, SM**, VSM was selected as the CEO & MD on 06 August 2023.
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