India is expected to sign a deal with Russia in December to locally produce about 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles (seen here) for the Indian military. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi is set to finalise an agreement with Russia to locally produce 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The deal is expected to be completed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in early December.

Senior Indian Army (IA) officers and industry officials told Janes on 16 November that matters related to royalty payments, which Russia had previously demanded, have now been resolved and a INR51.24 billion (USD687.7 million) contract will be signed next month.

“After months of extensive negotiations, Russia had opted to waive the royalty clause in the contract in keeping with India's demands,” former Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle of Security-Risks, a defence management consultancy in New Delhi, said. The production of the rifles is expected to begin in early 2022, he added.

India is expected to sign a deal with Russia in December to locally produce about 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles (seen here) for the Indian military. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi is set to finalise an agreement with Russia to locally produce 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The deal is expected to be completed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in early December.

Senior Indian Army (IA) officers and industry officials told Janes on 16 November that matters related to royalty payments, which Russia had previously demanded, have now been resolved and a INR51.24 billion (USD687.7 million) contract will be signed next month.

“After months of extensive negotiations, Russia had opted to waive the royalty clause in the contract in keeping with India's demands,” former Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle of Security-Risks, a defence management consultancy in New Delhi, said. The production of the rifles is expected to begin in early 2022, he added.

India is expected to sign a deal with Russia in December to locally produce about 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles (seen here) for the Indian military. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi is set to finalise an agreement with Russia to locally produce 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The deal is expected to be completed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in early December.

Senior Indian Army (IA) officers and industry officials told Janes on 16 November that matters related to royalty payments, which Russia had previously demanded, have now been resolved and a INR51.24 billion (USD687.7 million) contract will be signed next month.

“After months of extensive negotiations, Russia had opted to waive the royalty clause in the contract in keeping with India's demands,” former Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle of Security-Risks, a defence management consultancy in New Delhi, said. The production of the rifles is expected to begin in early 2022, he added.

India is expected to sign a deal with Russia in December to locally produce about 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles (seen here) for the Indian military. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi is set to finalise an agreement with Russia to locally produce 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The deal is expected to be completed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in early December.

Senior Indian Army (IA) officers and industry officials told Janes on 16 November that matters related to royalty payments, which Russia had previously demanded, have now been resolved and a INR51.24 billion (USD687.7 million) contract will be signed next month.

“After months of extensive negotiations, Russia had opted to waive the royalty clause in the contract in keeping with India's demands,” former Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle of Security-Risks, a defence management consultancy in New Delhi, said. The production of the rifles is expected to begin in early 2022, he added.

India is expected to sign a deal with Russia in December to locally produce about 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles (seen here) for the Indian military. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi is set to finalise an agreement with Russia to locally produce 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The deal is expected to be completed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in early December.

Senior Indian Army (IA) officers and industry officials told Janes on 16 November that matters related to royalty payments, which Russia had previously demanded, have now been resolved and a INR51.24 billion (USD687.7 million) contract will be signed next month.

“After months of extensive negotiations, Russia had opted to waive the royalty clause in the contract in keeping with India's demands,” former Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle of Security-Risks, a defence management consultancy in New Delhi, said. The production of the rifles is expected to begin in early 2022, he added.

India is expected to sign a deal with Russia in December to locally produce about 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles (seen here) for the Indian military. (Dmitry Fediushko)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in New Delhi is set to finalise an agreement with Russia to locally produce 700,000 Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for the Indian armed forces. The deal is expected to be completed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in early December.

Senior Indian Army (IA) officers and industry officials told Janes on 16 November that matters related to royalty payments, which Russia had previously demanded, have now been resolved and a INR51.24 billion (USD687.7 million) contract will be signed next month.

“After months of extensive negotiations, Russia had opted to waive the royalty clause in the contract in keeping with India's demands,” former Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle of Security-Risks, a defence management consultancy in New Delhi, said. The production of the rifles is expected to begin in early 2022, he added.