70 rounds fire, 3,000-round test: How India turned Russian AK-203 into its own ‘Sher’

In a Korwa facility in Amethi, Neha Mishra, a 23-year-old woman, handles an AK-203 Sher rifle and fires 70 rounds on a daily basis. Her job is to test the rifles manufactured at the site, which represents a significant milestone in India's small-arms production. The rifle is a Russian-designed AK-203 that has been manufactured entirely from Indian components, marking a major achievement in the country's indigenous weapons program.

This transition required the development of domestic suppliers and the ability to reproduce specialized materials and components, as well as the establishment of testing capabilities within India. The rifle's success was demonstrated when it passed a 3,000-round firing test. IRRPL, the company behind the program, employs a workforce of young defense workers, many of whom come from nearby areas and have little prior experience in defense manufacturing.