India and Russia signed renew military cooperation for 10-years and also a Rs 51 billion contract on Monday for the joint manufacturing of over 500,000 AK-203 assault rifles at a factory in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi region.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart General Sergey Shoigu signed a contract for procurement of over six lakh AK-203 assault rifles through Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd and an agreement on military-technical cooperation from 2021-2031.
India’s Defence Minister and Russian Defence Minister General Sergey Shoigu signed agreements including contract for procurement of 6,01,427 7.63 x 39mm assault rifles AK-203 through Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd, Program for military-technical cooperation from 2021-2031.
Protocol on amending agreement on cooperation in the field of Kalashnikov series small arms manufacturing dated 18 February 2019 was also a part of the agreement.
The 7.62 X 39mm caliber AK-203 Rifles will replace in-service INSAS Rifle inducted over three decades back. AK-203 Assault Rifles, with an effective range of 300 meters, are lightweight, robust, and easy to use Modern Assault Rifles with proven technology that will enhance the combat potential of soldiers to adequately meet present and envisaged operational challenges.
Another agreement for protocol on amending agreement on cooperation in the field of Kalashnikov series small arms manufacturing was also signed.
Singh expressed hope that the agreements will bring peace and stability to the entire region.
“India deeply appreciates Russia’s strong support for India. We hope that our cooperation will bring peace, prosperity and stability to the entire region,” the defence minister wrote on Twitter.
“Glad that a number of Agreements/Contracts/Protocols were signed pertaining to small arms and military cooperation,” he added.
Speaking at the inaugural 2+2 interministerial dialogue between India and Russia, Singh said that the defence engagements between the two countries have progressed in an unprecedented manner.
“We hope Russia will remain a major partner for India in these challenging circumstances,” he added.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar said the 2+2 interministerial dialogue will address the emergence of “multipolarity and rebalancing”. terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation as prominent challenges facing the region.
The minister also mentioned the wider repercussions of the ongoing situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover and stressed that maritime security and safety is another area of shared concern.
The 7.62 X 39mm caliber AK-203 Rifles will replace in-service INSAS Rifle inducted over three decades back. AK-203 Assault Rifles, with an effective range of 300 meters, are lightweight, robust, and easy to use Modern Assault Rifles with proven technology that will enhance the combat potential of soldiers to adequately meet present and envisaged operational challenges.
