Major General S K Sharma, CEO and managing director of Indo Russian Rifles Private Limited, joins Runjhun Sharma, head of news at RT India, for the latest episode of India, Russia and the World, the weekly podcast on geopolitics, world affairs and much more. 

General Sharma calls the AK-203 rifle ‘Sher’, the Hindi word for Tiger. He says it is the Gen Z version of the AK-47; a rifle with Russian DNA, now 100% ‘Made in India’. He discusses global defense demand, Western sanctions, Sher’s first combat use during Operation Sindoor, and how India-Russia defense ties have evolved from just buyer-seller ties to full technology transfer. 

On a lighter note, General Sharma talks about his Russian engineers enjoying local Awadhi food and Bhojpuri music while making the rifle for the future in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Watch the full episode for more.