New Delhi: India and Russia signed defence agreements procurement of 6,01,427, 7.63x39mm assault rifles AK-203. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister General Sergey Shoigu signed the contracts. 

Defence Ministers signed a contract for procurement of 6,01,427 7.63x39mm assault rifles AK-203 through Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt Ltd, Program for military-technical cooperation from 2021-2031. 

"It's a joint venture which will produce rifles AK-203 and for these entire 10 years, we will produce more than 600,000 rifles",  Army Gen Dmitriy Shugaev, Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Russia.

Also, a protocol was signed amending agreement on cooperation in manufacturing in the field of Kalashnikov series small arms dated 18 February 2019.

Defence Minister Rajntah Singh said, "India deeply appreciates Russia’s strong support for India. We hope that our cooperation will bring peace, prosperity and stability to the entire region. Glad that a number of Agreements/Contracts/Protocols were signed pertaining to small arms and military cooperation". 

Singh said, "Had productive, fruitful and substantial bilateral discussions on defence cooperation with the Russian Defence Minister, General Sergey Shoigu in New Delhi today. India values its special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia".