Indo-Russian Relations

The Indo-Russian joint venture begins manufacturing AK-203 assault rifles in U.P.

New assault rifles will be issued to the Indian Army.
In addition, a long-delayed initiative to manufacture weapons has finally begun.
According to Rosoboronexport, Russia, India began production of AK-203 Kalashnikov Assault Rifles on January 17, 2023, at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
It is believed that it is a joint venture with ambitions to build 100% of the AK-203 Kalashnikov Assault Rifles in India.
Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited(IRRPL), a joint venture, will manufacture these rifles.
The first shipment of 5,000 rifles is scheduled to arrive in March this year.

About
- India is the first to begin manufacturing the world-famous brand’s AK-200-series assault rifles.
- The Korwa Ordnance Factory has created the first batch of 7.62 mm Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
- Out of a total of 6,01,427 AK-203 rifles to be produced over 10 years for Rs 5,124 crore, the initial lot will consist of 5,000.
Developed by
- In February 2019, India and Russia inked an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to produce AK 203 assault rifles.
- A joint venture was formed between the Indian Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) and the Russian Rosonboron Exports and Concern Kalashnikov.
Significance
- Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited meets fully with the Indian government’s Made in India programme and DAP (Defence Acquisition Procedure) 2020.
- It intends to localise the production of AK-203 rifles in India completely.
- Furthermore, the move will provide the Indian armed forces with more weaponry.

Defence and Security Relations
- Military-technical cooperation between India and Russia has progressed from a buyer-seller model to collaborative research, development, and manufacture of modern defence technologies and systems.
- Additionally, the first-ever Tri-Services exercise, dubbed ‘INDRA 2017,’ was held in Vladivostok from October 19 to October 29, 2017.
- Indra Navy-2018, a bilateral Russian-Indian naval exercise, was placed in the Bay of Bengal from December 13 to 16.
- From the 10th to the 19th of December 2019, India and Russia conducted a joint tri-services exercise called INDRA 2019 at Babina, Pune, and Goa.
- The joint military programmes between India and Russia include:
  - BrahMos cruise missile programme
  - 5th generation fighter jet programme
  - Sukhoi Su-30MKI programme
  - Ilyushin/HAL Tactical Transport Aircraft
  - KA-226T twin-engine utility helicopters

Firstly, India’s orders from Russia have gradually declined due to the following:
- India’s ambition is to diversify its defence imports resulting in increased competition for Russia with other suppliers.
- In addition, dissatisfaction in India with Russia’s post-sales services and maintenance.
Furthermore, India has previously expressed worries about the availability and maintenance of defence supplies.
Among these was a five-year delay in delivering the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov (later renamed INS Vikramaditya) and cost overruns.

Balancing China
- Firstly, the Chinese assault in the border areas of eastern Ladakh tested India-China ties.
- But it also revealed that Russia could help defuse tensions with China.
- After violent confrontations in the Galwan Valley in the contentious region of Ladakh, Russia called a trilateral conference of the foreign ministers of China, India, and Russia.
Combating Terrorism
- India and Russia are pushing to complete the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism as soon as possible to close the gap in Afghanistan.
Russia’s Military Export
- Firstly, Russia has been one of India’s top weaponry exporters.
- Although Russia’s proportion of India’s weaponry imports has dropped by more than 50% over the last five years (2011–2015).

Russian government representatives have frequently criticised the Indo-Pacific and the Quad, saying they intend to restrain China.
Furthermore, Russia considers India today a Western country’s object.

Apart from bilateral synergies, India and Russia have a shared strategic rationale for their relationship.
The two are members of many multilateral organisations, including BRICS, RIC, G20, East Asia Summit, and SCO, where opportunities for cooperation on mutually important topics exist.
The fact that Russia has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and has supported India on various issues, including Kashmir, at the international level is critical for India.
Subsequently, India would strengthen its relations with Russia to avoid becoming even more reliant on China.

Pic Courtesy: Daily Pioneer

Content Source: The Hindu