India has manufactured and successfully test-fired its first fully indigenous AK-203 ‘Sher’ assault rifle at the Korwa ordnance facility in Amethi. The development marks a major step in the country’s effort to expand domestic defence production.

The rifle has been developed by Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), an India-Russia joint venture set up in 2019 to manufacture AK-203 rifles locally under the Make in India initiative.