India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to start licensed production of AK (Avtomat Kalashnikova )-103, 7.62x51mm assault rifles in India. The MoD and Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) officials are likely to begin talks with Russian officials for licensed production of Ak-103. This will help in fulfilling the requirement of the Indian Army. The army requires over 7,68,000 assault rifles for the soldiers.
Just like Ak-47, The AK-103 rifle is also extremely easy to maintain and use. The production started in 1994 at Kalashnikov Rifle Works at Izhevsk in Russia. The AK-103 can be fitted with a variety of sights, including night vision and telescopic sights. In additional to this it has an option of attaching a knife-bayonet or a grenade launcher. It uses plastic components where possible instead of wood or metal. This make rifle light to use.
The rifle can fire 600 rounds-per-minute and its range is 500 metres. The muzzle velocity of the AK-103 is 750 metres/second. Ak-103 is the modern version of AK-43. It can mount 40-mm under-barrel grenade launchers. The empty rifles weigh around 3.40 kg and with loaded magazine it weighs 4.10 Kg. The AK-103 can be fired even with butt stock folded. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed the proposal to acquire AK-103 rifles with Russian officials during her Moscow visit this month. Indian Navy’s MARCOS Commandoes are already using AK-103 rifle.
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