26 - 06 - 2026

Kalashnikov Expands Indian Footprint with Anti-Drone Weapons Pact

Russia’s premier arms manufacturer, has secured a fresh foothold in the highly competitive Indian defense market, RT reported.

The state-backed manufacturer has signed a pact to supply advanced small arms and specialized counter-drone technology to Indian partners, cementing a bilateral defense trade that is increasingly pivoting toward asymmetric warfare capabilities. The deal, finalized at the India Homeland Security Expo, emphasizes Moscow’s intent to remain India’s primary hardware provider, even as New Delhi faces intense western pressure to diversify its defense procurement away from Russia.

The Shift to Drone Warfare

The newly signed agreement directly targets the defining evolution of modern conflict: the proliferation of cheap, lethal unmanned aerial systems (UAVs). According to Maxim Karavaev, Kalashnikov’s business development director in India, the pact envisages the supply of anti-drone cartridges alongside anti-drone shotguns of various calibers and tactical pistols. Kalashnikov is expected to fulfill the initial production run by the end of this year.

“Anti-drone protection today is among the most popular in the world. The products of the concern in this niche are effective and proven,” Karavaev told RT. The strategic emphasis on counter-UAV technology reflects broader lessons from recent conflicts, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where commercial first-person view (FPV) drones have fundamentally disrupted traditional infantry tactics.

At the expo, Kalashnikov showcased two 12-gauge anti-UAV guns specifically engineered to down FPV drones—the Saiga and the MP-155—alongside its compact Karakurt and Goliath copter-type UAVs, and the SKAT 350 M high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft (marketed in India under the moniker GARUDA).

Deepening Co-Production Under ‘Make in India’

This latest arms pact does not sit in a vacuum; it builds upon a deeply entrenched corporate and diplomatic network between Moscow and New Delhi. The centerpiece of this relationship remains Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL)—a high-stakes joint venture formed by Russia’s Rosoboronexport and Kalashnikov alongside two state-owned Indian defense behemoths: Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, and Munitions India Limited.

Since 2023, IRRPL has been executing a marquee 10-year contract to manufacture 600,000 AK-203 assault rifles directly on Indian soil. Based in the town of Korwa in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the facility utilizes certified Russian technology and manufacturing equipment.

For New Delhi, the joint venture serves as a vital case study for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative, which mandates local manufacturing and technology transfer to reduce total import dependency. Earlier this month, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said defense production surged 15% in financial year 2025-26 to $21 billion – from $18 billion a year ago.

For Moscow, localized production lines offer a good workaround to bypass Western-led shipping and financial sanctions, ensuring a steady stream of revenue from its most reliable long-term defense client. By expanding the portfolio from standard infantry rifles to specialized anti-drone shotguns and extreme-weather apparel, Kalashnikov is positioning itself not just as a supplier of legacy hardware, but as a responsive partner for India’s evolving homeland security challenges.

Venkatesh G