Small Arms Modernization

Hello Aspirants,

Recently we would have come to know about the small arms used in our Armed Forces. Now, let's look at the modernisation that's currently taking place to replace the old and vintage weapons that our guardians are using.

AK-203 ASSAULT RIFLES

  Modernisation is finally happening in large numbers by replacing two decade old INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) with AK-203 Series Kalashnikov rifles.

  An inter-governmental agreement (IGA) for a joint venture between JSC Kalashnikov Concern and India’s Ordnance Factory Board has been signed

 The agreement paves way for 6,50,000 Kalashnikov 7.62 AK-203 assault rifles to be built in India for the Army’s regular infantry units.

 The contract will be a major boost for the Govt’s Make in India policy as they will be built in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district.

SIG SAUER 716 ASSAULT RIFLES

 Sig Sauer 716 assault rifles will replace the existing INSAS rifles of our frontline troops.

 MOD signed the deal last month for 72,400 SIG 716 7.62mm high performance rifles.

 All of the rifles contracted will be manufactured at Sig Sauer’s New Hampshire facilities and supplied over the course of a single year to meet the Indian  Army’s fast track requirements.

 These rifles will be highly reliable in counter insurgency operations in LoC.

CARACAL CAR 816

 Indian Army has chosen UAE firm Caracal’s CAR 816 in a contest to supply 93,895 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine.

 The UAE firm Caracal's CAR 816 close-quarter carbine finished 'L1’ in the bidding.

 As a fast-track procurement, the imminent order of 93,895 carbines will be serviced over a 12-month period by UAE’s Caracal at its firearm facility located at the Tawazun Industrial Park in Al Ajban near Abu Dhabi.

 The new carbine will replace the 9 mm Sterling carbines which are being gradually phased out.

SNIPER RIFLES

In the month of January, the Indian Army revealed that it had chosen to procure unspecified numbers of two new sniper rifle types for infantry units deployed on the Line of Control with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The two sniper rifles are Barrett M95 and Scorpio TGT.

This procurement comes in times of Pakistan Army indulging in sniper attacks along LoC.

Currently, Our soldiers use Steyr SSG 69, Mauser SP66, Sig Sauer SSG 3000, Dragunov SVD, Heckler & Koch PSG1, IMI Galil sniper rifles.

FUTURE PROCUREMENTS

3,60,000 CARBINES

Indian Army officially announced its interest in procuring 3,60,000 more Carbines.

This will involve much wider competitive bidding unlike the bidding of 93,895 Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbine.

The army wants to involve Caracal, Colt, Berretta, S&T Motiv, Israeli Weapon Industries, SIG Sauer, Heckler & Koch, FN Herstal and Russian firms.

40,000 LIGHT MACHINE GUNS

Indian Army is also all set to open a contest sooner for a deal for 40,000 light machine guns (LMG) to augment in service Israeli Negev.

This procurement will be a force multiplier for our forces.

All thanks to Army Chief General Bipin Rawat.

JAI HIND.