Kanpur, Oct. 6 -- The Indian Army is set to receive another 75,000 AK-203 assault rifles by the end of this year, giving a strong push to the centre's Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in the defence sector. These rifles will replace the ageing INSAS rifles that have been in service for over three decades.

The AK-203 rifles are being assembled at the Korwa ordnance factory in Amethi, under a joint venture between India and Russia. But what makes this development more significant is that most parts used in these rifles are now being made locally-especially at the Small Arms Factory (SAF) in Kanpur.

The SAF has played a key role in the indigenisation of the AK-203 rifle. Since February 2023, the factory has been producing...