**Billionaire Adani’s Firm to Supply Ammunition for Indian-Made Kalashnikovs**
In a significant development for India's defense sector, Adani Defence, a company owned by billionaire Gautam Adani, has entered into a partnership with Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) to provide locally manufactured ammunition for the AK-203 assault rifles. This agreement marks a step towards enhancing the indigenous capabilities of the Indian armed forces.
Under the terms of the agreement, Adani Defence will produce and supply 7.62 mm ammunition specifically for the AK-203 program over the next five years. The ammunition will be manufactured at Adani Defence’s facility located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, which is already engaged in the production of small-caliber rounds. The deal aims to establish a reliable Indian source for the ammunition required by the AK-203 rifles, which are being produced at IRRPL’s facility in Korwa, Uttar Pradesh.
While the specifics regarding the financial aspects of the deal, including the quantity of ammunition to be supplied and the delivery timeline, have not been disclosed, the collaboration is seen as a significant move in line with India's push for self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
IRRPL was founded in 2019 as part of an intergovernmental agreement between India and Russia, aimed at localizing the production of the AK-203 rifles. The joint venture includes Indian stakeholders such as Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and Munitions India Limited, while the Russian side is represented by Kalashnikov Concern and Rosoboronexport, the state arms exporter.
The Indian Ministry of Defense had previously signed a contract with IRRPL in December 2021 for the procurement of 601,427 AK-203 rifles, valued at approximately 51.2 billion rupees (around $542 million). This contract is part of a broader initiative to enhance the capabilities of the Indian military while also promoting domestic manufacturing.
The announcement of the ammunition supply deal comes at a time when IRRPL is making strides in localizing the components of the AK-203 rifles, in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make-in-India initiative. Recently, the company successfully manufactured and test-fired its first AK-203 rifle, entirely composed of Indian components and materials, named ‘Sher’. To date, around 70,000 units of the AK-203 have been delivered to Indian security forces from the Korwa facility.
Gautam Adani, who became Asia’s richest man in June 2023, has extensive business interests across various sectors, including energy, transport, infrastructure, defense, and mining. His involvement in defense manufacturing aligns with the Indian government's efforts to bolster the domestic defense industry and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
This partnership between Adani Defence and IRRPL is expected to contribute to the modernization of India's armed forces and enhance the country’s defense capabilities through increased self-sufficiency in ammunition production.