Govt approves production of Kalashnikov rifles, upgradation of Israeli drones

Bring_Harmony
Published on Aug 12, 2020
Defence acquisitions council (DAC) has approved to fast track long-pending project. It gave approval to arm its Israeli drones with deadly weapons and indigenously manufacture Russian Kalashnikov assault rifles. It also cleared procurements worth Rs 8,722 crore of basic trainer aircraft, naval guns and specialized anti-tank ammunition. The decision by the Rajnath Singh-led defence acquisitions council (DAC) to fast-track the almost decade-old proposal to arm the Israeli Heron drones, in particular, is significant since it comes amidst the ongoing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh. It also sorted out â€œsome contractual issuesâ€ of the stalled Indo-Russia joint venture to make 6.71 lakh AK-203 rifles, a derivative of the famous AK-47 guns, at Korwa ordnance factory in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh. TOI had reported in June that the â€œunreasonable and unacceptableâ€ costs for manufacturing the 7.62x39 mm calibre rifles, at an initial estimated cost of Rs 4,358 crore, had delayed the inking of the final contract.