SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG

In a move to further strengthen military ties with its neighbour, India has proposed supplying the Nepal Army with ‘Made in India’ AK-203 assault rifles. This proposal comes as an upgrade from the currently used INSAS rifles, which have been the standard issue for the Nepalese Army since India began supplying them in 2001.
Since 2001, Nepal has received approximately 26,000 INSAS rifles under a generous arrangement from India, where New Delhi subsidized 70% of the cost. These rifles have been pivotal in the Nepalese military’s operations, making Nepal the second-largest operator of INSAS rifles after the Indian Army. However, as of July 20, 2020, the Nepali Army transferred 600 of these rifles to the Nepali Armed Police Force, indicating a shift or expansion in the use of this equipment.
The Indian Army has embarked on modernizing its inventory, with some of the older INSAS models being phased out in favour of the newer, locally manufactured AK-203 rifles. This transition is part of India’s broader push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, under initiatives like ‘Make in India’.
The AK-203, developed through a joint venture between India and Russia, is manufactured at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. It’s designed to offer superior performance over the INSAS, particularly regarding reliability, accuracy, and adaptability to various combat environments.
India now holds the export rights for the AK-203, and there’s a keen interest in promoting these rifles within the region. Offering these rifles to Nepal not only signifies a continuation of military cooperation but also showcases India’s capability to produce high-quality, modern weaponry.
Switching to the AK-203 could upgrade the combat effectiveness and reliability of Nepal’s infantry’s primary weapon system. For India, this move is strategic on several fronts.
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