The Government of India has cleared a proposal for setting up a plant to produce at least 747,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles by a JV between Ordnance Factory Board and a Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern.
The plant will be built near Amethi in the Uttar Pradesh state.
ANI reported that the Centre cleared a proposal for the joint production of Kalashnikov series assault rifles for the Indian Army.
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According to media reports, an intergovernmental agreement for this joint venture is expected to be signed later this week.
The JV comes in response to the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s Request for Information (RFI) for procurement of 650,000 assault rifles of 7.62×39mm calibre under its ‘Make in India’ programme.
Under the deal, India will secure around 50,000 assault rifles once the joint venture is inked, reported Zee News.
In the JV, the Russian government will hold 49% stake, reported International Business Times.
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By GlobalDataSince October, Russia has been pushing for this deal.
In December, the two countries agreed on setting up a Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military and military-technical cooperation.
During the intergovernmental commission meeting, it was decided that the Kalashnikovs will be manufactured in India under the Make in India programme.
This deal will help India provide modern weapons to its army’s infantry division guarding the country’s borders.
This week, the government has signed a deal with US-based Sig Sauer for the procurement of 72,400 7.6mm assault rifles for the Indian Army’s infantry division under fast-track procedures.
PTI reported that the cost of the deal is around Rs7bn.
India has also signed contracts with the US for the purchase of assault rifles currently used by armed forces in the US and several European countries.
The US firm will have to begin delivery of the rifles within a year, reported PTI.
Once deliveries begin, the Indian Army will receive 66,400 of the assault rifles, the airforce will secure 4,000, and the Indian Navy will receive the remaining 2,000.
