I don't think even the old AK-203 handguard allowed a free-floating barrel. I thought that was something only the AK-12/AK-15 handguards (which are different from 200 series) allowed.
@Maximus
Yes only AK 12,AK 15 Hand guard is free float,unlike the AK 103/203 Hand guard.
The AK 203 which we are buying is quite similar to the AK 103 which was offered to Pakistan.The only difference being that the muzzle brake has been replaced by the flash hider,and the design of the rear sight block and the way top is cover is hinged ,and secured has been changed.
AK 103 which was offered to Pakistan.
I have pieced together the events that led to AK 103/203.All of this is my assumption based on the info available in public.
2015
As per this article Kalashnikov wanted to start manufacturing AK 103 in India ,in partnership with Adani in 2015,but it was turned down by the MOD.
The defence ministry recently nixed a proposal for a joint venture between Russia's Kalashnikov Concern-which makes the iconic assault rifle-and the Adani group.
Russia's Kalashnikov Concern, meanwhile, has unsuccessfully tried to set up a gun assembly plant in Gujarat with the private sector since 2014. It wanted the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to provide components for these rifles, to be assembled by a private partner.
The proposal was forwarded to the OFB in 2015. It was shot down by the MoD's Directorate of Defence Production (DoDP) on procedural grounds. The DoDP felt the proposal not only bypassed Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms trading firm that India deals with, but also fair competition norms.
The search for an assault rifle
2015-2016
Meanwhile OFB has realized that chances of any of its assault rifle being selected by the Indian army are close to non existent. They may have to soon shut their shops,the only way out of this seem to be a partnership with Kalashnikov. As OFB was well versed in manufacturing of stampede receiver due to insas,AK 103 seem an easy way out.
OFB officials say the stamped-metal receiver body can easily be manufactured at their factory with no additional investments in plant and machinery.
The search for an assault rifle
2017
The OFB Lobby in conjunction with MOD convinced Kalashnikov to tie up with OFB,with an assurance of tender meant for replacement of Insas.
Vladimir onokoy was sent to rifle factory Ishapore ,to workout a deal with OFB.He has claimed to trial the AK 103 at Rifle factory Ishapore in 2017.The point to note is that he never claims it to be army trials.Nor the army would conduct its rifle trials at OFB ishapore,these are generally done at infantry school MHOW,when a foreign manufacturer is involved.
Trials of 100 series were conducted by me in Ishapor in 2017. 200 series is internally the same.
2017
An initial agreement was reached between Kalashnikov and OFB ,for the production of AK 103.As a result OFB displayed the AK 103 in its stall at defexpo2017 :
April 2018
The delegation of MOD visited Kalashnikov plant in Russia,to lay the groundwork of production of AK 103 at OFB.At this point the AK 103 had morphed into AK 203,then there was AK 15.The Kalashnikov concern were able to up sell the AK 203 to the Mod.As a result the rifle to be produced by the OFB was finalized as AK 203.The Final deal was to be signed when Modi Visit Russia.
The delegation of the Ministry of Defense of India led by director general of the department of acquisitions Apurwa Chandra visited the construction site of the "Kalashnikov" Concern in Izhevsk.
Delegation of Indian Ministry of Defense visits "Kalashnikov" Concern
August 2018
Indian army issued a global RFI for 6,50,000 ,7.62x39mm rifles.Which was a complete hogwash,as the rifle and the agency to produce it was already finalized(ak 103/OFB).
n a major step to modernise the infantry, the Army on Friday floated a global tender or Request for Information(RFI) worth over Rs 12,000 crore for 6,50,000 assault rifles for soldiers. These rifles will replace the current INSAS rifle.
Giving specifications of the rifle as mentioned in the tender, officials said here the 7.62X39mm caliber gun should have an effective range of 300 metres, should be of modular design, light and have the capability for integrated open sight.
Army floats global tender for 6.5 lakh assault rifles
March 2019
PM Modi announce the manufacturing of AK 203 at OFB amethi.
Modi inaugurated a manufacturing unit for AK-203 rifles, an India-Russia joint venture.
Modi inaugurates AK-203 rifle manufacturing unit in Amethi
So basically ,the deal to replace insas rifles was already fixed in favor of OFB.The tender,fair trial,competition was all an eyewash.OFB and MOD were involved in it ,right from 2015.What role (if at all)army leadership played in it ,is not known.
