AK-47 203 Vs INSAS: Assault Rifle Set To Replace Indian Small Arms System; Know Why It Is Considered Superior

AK-47 203 vs INSAS Assault Rifle Comparison: India has finalised the deal with Russia to manufacture the state of the art rifle AK-47 203. Considered as an improvised version of the AK-47, the rifle is set to replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56 mm rifle. Here is why it has an edge.

(Representative Image/AFP)

New Delhi: India has finalised a major deal with Russia for manufacturing AK-47 203. Russia's state-run Sputnik news agency has reported that the two countries have reached to a mutual conclusion of manufacturing the rifles in India. ALSO READ| Ladakh Standoff: Chinese Defence Minister Seeks Meeting With Rajnath Singh Amid Border Tensions According to a PTI report, the Russian AK-47 203 rifles that will replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56x45 mm assault rifle will be manufactured in India as part of the joint venture Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), established between the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the Kalashnikov Concern and Rosoboronexport -- the Russian state agency for military exports. It is said that AK-47 203 is the latest and most advanced version of the AK-47 rifle. Amid the heavy demand, India is likely to import as many as 100,000 rifles while the rest will be manufactured in India. The cost of rifles to be imported from Russia is expected to be around USD 1,100 while the ones to be made in India would be little less expensive. The report stated that the 7.62, 39 mm Russian weapon will be manufactured at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Uttar Pradesh. What makes the AK 203 superior? The Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56 mm rifle is a mainstay of the Indian military and paramilitary. The rifle weighs over 4.15 kg (without Magazine and bayonet) and has an effective range of 400 metres. The rifle only has a magazine capacity of 20 rounds. While the INSAS is an all-weather weapon with many features such as quick mounting of passive night sight/ daylight telescope, easy to assemble and dismantle barrel, and safety measures according to an article by Times of India security personnel also faced several issues with the weapon. The report says, that soldiers have complained about gun jamming and rifle going into automatic mode even though it is set for three-round bursts. Besides this, the rifle is also heavy weighing over 4.15 kg (without Magazine and bayonet). The AK 47 or Avtomat Kalashnikova which was designed by the Russian Army officer Lieutenant General Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, is one of the most widely used weapons in the world. One very important quality of the rifle is that it does not get jammed and is especially reliable under harsh conditions. The AK 203 considered being an improvised version of the AK-47  which is currently being used by paramilitary outfits like the CRPF. The AK-203 is a full-size rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm and can fire in two modes - semi-automatic and fully automatic. It is a gas-operated, rotary bolt locking rifle and can fire 600 rounds in one minute (10 rounds per second), providing more accuracy and effectiveness to the security personnel. The magazine can hold 30 bullets. The rifle has a barrel length of 415 mm and weighs 4.1 kilogramme (weight with an empty magazine). These rifles also have a new muzzle device which is an effective flash hider while the barrel is rugged enough to carry an under-barrel grenade launcher. The barrel can also carry a bayonet for close quarter and hand-to-hand combat. The rifle has Krebs style safety selector levers and is equipped with a Picatinny rail section on the top cover to mount a laser sight.