Faced with a critical shortage of new generation standard assault rifles, the Indian Army is likely to go in for ‘Make in India’ acquisitions. This comes against the backdrop of cancellation of a global tender worth Rs4,850 crore as the rifles produced by five foreign competitors were found unsatisfactory and too expensive.
The international tender for interchangeable double barrel rifle with a 5.56 primary barrel for anti-terrorist operations and 7.62mm secondary barrel for fighting a conventional war was floated in 2011 by the Army to replace its ageing 5.56 mm INSAS rifles now is use for the last 20 years. Colt (US), Beretta (Italy), Ceska (Czech Republic), Israeli Weapon Industry and Sig Sauer (Europe) responded, but their rifles were not compatible with Indian conditions during technical trials.
Moreover, the overall cost of the proposed deal was overshooting the Rs4,850-crore mark, thereby forcing the Army to cancel it last month. The tender provided for outright purchase of 65,678 rifles from the selected vendor and production of 1,13,000 rifles in India through a transfer of technology pact.
Due to the rapidly changing nature of warfare, with stress on mobility and speed, the Army wants to have a lighter weapon for its foot soldiers who have to trek or run and then fight. Having cancelled the tender, the Army is now planning to go in for ‘Make in India’ product to cut down costs and address issues like after sales service and product support, officials said here on Tuesday. This crucial issue sometimes creates problems if the foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) does not honour the contractual terms, they said.
Assault rifles, known as standard issue basic weapon, are mainly used by infantry troops who are now actively deployed in anti-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir besides being positioned all the along the line of Control (loC) there to fight a conventional war with Pakistan. Similarly, the troops are guarding the 4,000 km-long line of Actual Control (lAC) facing China.
India has nearly 350 infantry battalions (one battalion has 1,000 soldiers) guarding the loC, lAC and the International Border. These soldiers desperately need new generation rifles as the present weapon has entered the last phase of its operational life, officials said here on Tuesday. These rifles, 5.56mm INSAS designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRD0) and manufactured by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) were inducted into the Army in the early 1990s.
Since the infantry is the mainstay of any war and Indian soldiers need modern rifles, the Army is likely to fast track the procedure of procurement. Explaining the significance of this step, officials said even if a fresh tender is floated, the entire process will be completed in the shortest possible time so that the selected foreign vendor can have a joint venture with Indian or public sector. However, the rifles will be manufactured within the country under the ‘Make in India’ policy to give a boost to the Indian industry.
DRDO has developed a new rifle “Excalibur” and is hopeful of making it ready for production within two years if the Army selects it. Officials said DRDO will be invited for the tender along with other players so as to provide a level playing field to all competitors.
Specifications for the new rifle include 3.5 kg weight with advanced night vision devices, holographic sights, laser designators and detachable under-barrel launchers. The rifle now in use weighs more than 4.25 kg and has range of 450 metres. Though this rifle rates high in accuracy, the Army is facing problems with its metallurgy and some other technical defects, officials said adding soldiers now need rifles with more stopping power. It means more lethal ammunition and the rifle should be able to fire it in automatic and semi-automatic mode.