Abu Dhabi. February 21. INTERFAX-A joint Russian-Indian enterprise can produce about 40 thousand AK-203 assault rifles this year if a corresponding contract is signed, said the general director of the Kalashnikov concern (part of Rostec") Dmitry Tarasov.
"The contract of the Indian Defense Ministry with the joint Russian-Indian plant in Korva for the supply of AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles to the Indian armed forces is expected to be signed in the near future," he said.
"If the contract is signed this year, then for the first year since the start of production, it is planned to produce about 40 thousand AK-203. 20 thousand from sets supplied from the Russian Federation and 20 thousand from jointly produced components," Tarasov said.
"The Kalashnikov Concern is ready to move the production of any products from the product line that will be of interest to Indian partners," he said.
Tarasov recalled that Saudi Arabia showed interest in building a plant for the licensed production of AK-103 assault rifles.
On February 4, 2020, Rosoboronexport announced that the contract documents that will allow India to launch licensed production of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles have been worked out. "The contract has been worked out and is ready for signing, "Rosoboronexport said.
Earlier it was reported that in the Indian city of Korva, a joint Russian-Indian enterprise "INDO-RUSSIAN Rifles PRIVATE Limited" (INDO-RUSSIAN RIFLES PRIVATE LIMITED) was opened for the production of Kalashnikov assault rifles of the "two-hundredth" series.