Adani Group had recently entered the defence sector

The Army has now set the ball rolling for the acquisition of 6.5 lakh new 7.62x39 mm calibre assault rifles. The government is wary about any blow-back in the proposed project in the backdrop of Congress's Rafale charges. "If Russia wants a government-to-government deal, it cannot suggest private sector companies for a JV,” said a source

NEW DELHI: The government has advised Russia that its firm Kalashnikov Concern should tie up with the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) if it wants its proposal to manufacture the AK-103 assault rifles in India to be considered by the defence ministry.

This comes after the MoD shot down Kalashnikov Concern’s proposal for a joint venture with the Adani Group, which has recently entered the defence sector, to produce the 7.62x39 mm calibre AK-103 gun, which are a derivative of the iconic AK-47 rifle. “If Russia wants a government-to-government deal, it cannot suggest private sector companies for a JV,” said a source.

The government is wary about any blowback in the proposed rifle production project in the backdrop of Congress levelling charges of “crony capitalism” in the way Reliance Defence was chosen as the main offsets partner of Dassault Aviation in the Rs 59,000 crore contract for 36 French Rafale fighters, with defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics being left completely in the cold.

As reported by TOI last week, the Army has now set the ball rolling for the acquisition of 6.5 lakh new 7.62x39 mm calibre assault rifles under what will eventually be an over Rs 12,000 crore “Make in India” project in the years ahead. The Army on Friday floated a request for information for the assault rifles, with an effective kill range of 300 meters, which will be produced by the OFB.