Archive · 24 Aug 2026
India’s Indigenous AK-203 Sher Rifle Begins Army Trial Preparations
India has built and tested a new rifle called Sher.
It is based on the AK-203 design and is made at a factory in Uttar Pradesh.
The company says all of its parts and materials come from Indian industry.
The Army is expected to test sample rifles before deciding on their use.
The rifle fires larger 7.62×39 mm bullets than the older INSAS rifle.
Supporters say this can provide stronger effects in close and medium-range fighting.
The larger bullets also weigh more, which can increase the load carried by soldiers.
Sher is planned to replace INSAS, which soldiers have criticized for problems such as jamming and unreliable burst fire.
The manufacturer plans to make 150,000 rifles each year.
Indo-Russian Rifles has manufactured and test-fired India’s first fully indigenous AK-203 rifle, named Sher.
The rifle was produced at the Korwa facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, using components and materials the company says are entirely Indian.
The Indian Army is expected to formally trial prototypes, with one report citing September 2026 and another saying trials will begin next month.
Sher fires 7.62×39 mm ammunition and is intended to replace the ageing 5.56 mm INSAS rifle.
Indo-Russian Rifles has a contract for 601,427 rifles and plans to produce 150,000 annually, potentially completing deliveries by 2030.
- Who
- Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited manufactured the rifle; the Indian Army is expected to conduct formal trials.
- What
- India manufactured and test-fired its first fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifle, named Sher.
- When
- The rifle has completed production and firing tests; reports differ on the Army trials, citing either next month or September 2026.
- Where
- The rifle was produced and tested at the Korwa facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- It is intended to improve small-arms self-reliance and replace the ageing INSAS rifle.
Supporters’ Case
Reservations and Trade-offs
Combat performance
Supporters’ Case
Supporters say the 7.62×39 mm cartridge offers greater stopping power and robust performance in close and medium-range combat than the 5.56 mm INSAS ammunition.
Reservations and Trade-offs
The heavier ammunition increases the soldier’s load and has a less-flat trajectory than 5.56 mm ammunition.
Reliability versus older rifles
Supporters’ Case
The AK-203’s Kalashnikov-based design is presented as easy to maintain, with reliable semi-automatic and fully automatic firing and improved accessory mounting.
Reservations and Trade-offs
The articles note that the rifle’s design is not indigenous, and they compare it with newer Western rifles that emphasize greater modularity, ambidextrous controls and accessory integration.
Replacing INSAS
Supporters’ Case
The AK-203 is intended to replace INSAS because soldiers have reported jamming, magazine cracking in extreme cold and unreliable three-round burst fire.
Reservations and Trade-offs
The articles do not present a formal Army evaluation of Sher; its suitability remains subject to the planned trials.
- Rifle
- AK-203 assault rifle, named Sher
- Manufacturer
- Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited
- Indigenisation
- The company says the rifle uses 100 per cent Indian components and input materials.
- Ammunition
- 7.62×39 mm intermediate cartridge
- Specifications
- Approximately 3.6 kilograms, with a 415 mm barrel, a 700-round-per-minute cyclic rate and an engagement range of up to 800 metres.
- Army order
- 601,427 rifles are contracted for delivery to India’s armed forces by 2032.
- Production plans
- The company plans to produce 150,000 rifles annually and aims to complete the order by the end of 2030.
