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In its bid to provide state-of-the-art rifles to infantry jawans, the Army shortlisted five companies for its Rs 8,000 crore plan to acquire assault rifles for its Infantry troops.
The first induction on the cards is 60,000 assault rifles with the Army having completed user trials last fortnight of five guns, including Beretta (US), IWI (Israel), Sig-Sauer (Switzerland), Colt (US) and Ceska (Czech Republic) and the technical evaluation about to commence shortly, Army officials said here.
These assault rifles will have two interchangeable barrels of 5.56 and 7.62 mm caliber with conversion kits. While operating in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency environment, the battalions will convert the rifle to 7.62 with capability to fire like AK-56 rifles, thereby giving the troops the much needed flexibility to fight the ultras.
However, when the same battalion is transferred to conventional war fighting role after tenure of two to three years in the counter-insurgency grid, the soldiers will have the facility to change the barrel to 5.56 which gives longer range to shoot down and kill the enemy.
At present, the units operating in Kashmir was specially equipped with AK-47 and AK-56 rifles, which increases the operational and maintenance cost and pose logistical problems, sources said. Incidentally, one battalion (1,000 men) has 300 to 350 assault rifles. The new rifles will be allocated to units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East.
Sources said these 60,000 rifles worth over `4,800 crore are likely to be inducted by early 2014 after the vendor is short-listed. Moreover, the proposed deal has the transfer of technology clause to enable the ordnance factories to manufacture these guns here for the three services, paramilitary and State police units.
The second induction on the list is 40,000 carbines and the Army has completed the user trials of four guns including Beretta, Colt, Sig-Sauer and IWI. The proposed deal is worth over `3,200 crore. One battalion has more than 90 carbines and the army hopes to complete the induction by late 2014 once the vendor is finalised.
As regards light machine guns, the Army wants to replace the indigenously built gun which weighs more than six kilos and has an effective range of 700 metres. Experts are drawing the quality and technical requirements and the aim is to increase the range to 1,000 metres and the gun should weigh less than five kilos for faster movement of the soldier on the battlefield. At present, one battalion has a sanctioned strength of 40 light machine guns and the proposed deal is worth over `526 crore.
The fourth proposed acquisition is of specialised sniper rifles as most of the Russian made Dragnov rifles are of 1960s vintage. This gun does not have a bi-pod and has a range of 800 metres while the Army wants to have a range of more than 1,000 metres with a bi-pod and better magnifying lenses and target acquisition system with more lethality and punch. Since sniper firing is highly specialised, one battalion has ten to 12 rifles and one sniper rifle is expected to cost more than `7 lakh.
Besides these four categories of infantry weapons, the Army is also providing better body armour to jawans to reduce casualties including lighter bullet proof jackets, helmets and visors, satellite driven compact communication systems and all weather clothing including boots.
Army Shortlisted Companies for Its Rs 8,000 Crore Plan For Assault Rifles
The first induction on the cards is 60,000 assault rifles with the Army having completed user trials last fortnight of five guns, including Beretta (US), IWI (Israel), Sig-Sauer (Switzerland), Colt (US) and Ceska (Czech Republic) and the technical evaluation about to commence shortly, Army officials said here.
These assault rifles will have two interchangeable barrels of 5.56 and 7.62 mm caliber with conversion kits. While operating in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency environment, the battalions will convert the rifle to 7.62 with capability to fire like AK-56 rifles, thereby giving the troops the much needed flexibility to fight the ultras.
However, when the same battalion is transferred to conventional war fighting role after tenure of two to three years in the counter-insurgency grid, the soldiers will have the facility to change the barrel to 5.56 which gives longer range to shoot down and kill the enemy.
At present, the units operating in Kashmir was specially equipped with AK-47 and AK-56 rifles, which increases the operational and maintenance cost and pose logistical problems, sources said. Incidentally, one battalion (1,000 men) has 300 to 350 assault rifles. The new rifles will be allocated to units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East.
Sources said these 60,000 rifles worth over `4,800 crore are likely to be inducted by early 2014 after the vendor is short-listed. Moreover, the proposed deal has the transfer of technology clause to enable the ordnance factories to manufacture these guns here for the three services, paramilitary and State police units.
The second induction on the list is 40,000 carbines and the Army has completed the user trials of four guns including Beretta, Colt, Sig-Sauer and IWI. The proposed deal is worth over `3,200 crore. One battalion has more than 90 carbines and the army hopes to complete the induction by late 2014 once the vendor is finalised.
As regards light machine guns, the Army wants to replace the indigenously built gun which weighs more than six kilos and has an effective range of 700 metres. Experts are drawing the quality and technical requirements and the aim is to increase the range to 1,000 metres and the gun should weigh less than five kilos for faster movement of the soldier on the battlefield. At present, one battalion has a sanctioned strength of 40 light machine guns and the proposed deal is worth over `526 crore.
The fourth proposed acquisition is of specialised sniper rifles as most of the Russian made Dragnov rifles are of 1960s vintage. This gun does not have a bi-pod and has a range of 800 metres while the Army wants to have a range of more than 1,000 metres with a bi-pod and better magnifying lenses and target acquisition system with more lethality and punch. Since sniper firing is highly specialised, one battalion has ten to 12 rifles and one sniper rifle is expected to cost more than `7 lakh.
Besides these four categories of infantry weapons, the Army is also providing better body armour to jawans to reduce casualties including lighter bullet proof jackets, helmets and visors, satellite driven compact communication systems and all weather clothing including boots.
Army Shortlisted Companies for Its Rs 8,000 Crore Plan For Assault Rifles
