Breaking news
Indian army could purchase additional batch of Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles 11207161.
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Defence & Security News - India
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| Indian army could purchase additional batch of Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles. | |||
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India`s Armed Forces may buy a huge additional batch of Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifles, according to a source in the indigenous defense industry. AK-103 is a derivative of the legendary Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle that is spread all over the world.
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 Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-103 assault rifle |
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"Had not it been for the multiple drawbacks of the newest Excalibur assault rifle designed by India`s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), we would not be seeking where to buy additional infantry firearms to bridge the existing gaps in the area of small arms and light weapons (SALW). Excalibur is operationally inadequate to full extent. Low reliability and quality of manufacturing, let alone bad design and too sophisticated gas-operating scheme have caused the most of the rifle`s drawback. Excalibur must be elaborately refined before entering the service. To bridge the aforementioned gap, Indian Army intends to buy assault rifles chambered for 7.62x51mm STANAG 2310 heavy cartridge. At the same, such acquisition would be a costly one. All modern heavy assault rifle chambered for the STANAG 2310 cartridge are extremely expensive, as well as the required munitions. Hence, Kalashnikov AK-103 seems to be a good alternative to its overseas counterparts. The Soviet M43 7.62x39mm cartridge has good armour-piercing and stopping effects. Moreover, AK-103 has proven itself a reliable and effective rifle that has a high level of combat performance. Several iconoclasts are waging a war against Kalashnikov in efforts to reveal its disadvantages. At same time, the Kalashnikov Group have fixed the main weak points of AK-103 rifle, namely, the low ergonomics and the lack of Picatinny rail over the top of the receiver. AK-103-3 rifle features both Picatinny rail system and convenient pistol grip. Hence, the Russian firearms seems to be a good option," the source said.
According to the data provided by Kalashnikov group, AK-103 has a full length of 943 mm (including a barrel of 415 mm), a combat weight of 4.1 kg, a firing rate of 600 rds/min, a muzzle velocity of 715 m/s and an effective firing range of 1,000 m. The rifle has single and automatic firing modes. It can be complemented by 40mm GP-34 under-barrel grenade launcher and various Picatinny/Warsaw Pact ('swallow`s tail')-standard optical/red-dot scopes. The rifle features effective muzzle brake that can be replaced by a silencer. According to open force, Marine Commando Forces (MCF) of the Indian Navy are actively using AK-103 and AKMS (S stands for folding stock, Skladnoy) assault rifles. |
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