Hunt on for new generation assault rifles; upgraded INSAS not a replacement

[The Huskar]

NEW DELHI: When it comes to the Army, a modern, reliable assault rifle is the very basic - the primary weapon of an infantry soldier posted either on the border or deployed for counter militancy missions in the hinterland.

However, despite a four year process to select a new generation rifle to replace the glitch prone Indian made INSAS, the Army is still not close to a viable option, with a new desi weapon being pushed by DRDO getting mixed reviews during ongoing user trials.

With the INSAS rifle - developed by DRDO and introduced in service in 1996 - not adequately meeting its requirements, the Army started the search for a new basic weapon in 2011. The contract was cancelled earlier this year - contenders failed to meet the stringent requirements - and a new variant of the INSAS, called the Excalibur, was fielded by DRDO.

The new rifle is being tested presently by the Army at two locations, with trials now at the final stage and results expected by February. However, several officials that ET spoke with say that the results till now have been mixed, with one team finding the rifle inadequate and the other seeing it as an improvement over the INSAS.

While the final results will take a few more weeks to come in, Army officials say that while the Excalibur would be an improvement over the INSAS, it would at best be a replacement rifle. "The Excalibur is an upgraded version of the INSAS, it is not a new rifle but the older weapon has been given additional features," a senior Army officer said.

But on the Army's parameters for a futuristic assault rifle, the Excalibur fails to make the cut. "It is at best a replacement for the INSAS rifles in service but for a future weapon, the rifle simply does not have the technical qualities," another officer told ET.

The Army is in urgent need to get a replacement for the INSAS but is also keen to get a world class product. Army officials have told ET that the ideal process would involve a fair competition in which the Excalibur also takes part to determine the best weapon systems suited for the Indian combat environment.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Heckler & Koch G36 (Germany)

The G36 assault rifle has been designed by Heckler & Koch to replace the G3 rifle in service with the Bundeswehr. Since 1995 the G36 is a standard issue infantry rifle with the German armed forces. This weapon is an export success. It has been exported to more than 40 countries around the world.

The Heckler & Koch G36 is chambered for a standard NATO 5.56x45 mm ammunition. It is a conventional gas operated, selective fire weapon. It uses some proven elements of the previous G3 rifle design. Internally it also bears a lot of similarity with the US Armalite AR-18 automatic rifle. Sophistication was eschewed in favor of reliability. Weapon has a simple layout. During trials a prototype of the HK G36 was rated higher than the Austrian Steyr AUG.

This assault rifle is manufactured using the most modern technologies.

This assault rifle is fed form 30-round box-shaped magazines, made form translucent plastic. Two or three magazines can be clipped together for rapid reloading. This weapon is also compatible with a 100-round dual drum magazines. After some adjustments this rifle can accept any standard NATO 5.56x45 mm magazine.

Sights are built into the carrying handle. A standard German Army rifle has a dual sight system. It consists of one 3.5x magnification scope, for long-range accurate shooting and one 1x magnification red dot sight above it, for close ranges.

This rifle is compatible with the HK AG36 40-mm underbarrel grenade launcher. It can also launch barrel-mounted riffle grenades.

Overall the G36 lacks fancy bells and whistles, but is modern, light, accurate, rugged and reliable weapon. It is not as reliable as the AK-100 series weapons, but definitely makes up for it by its astounding precision. Also the G36 is simple in operation and maintenance.


Heckler & Koch HK416 (Germany)

The HK416 assault rifle was developed by Heckler & Koch company in the 1990s to meet US Army's Delta Force requirement. It is and improved version of the M4 carbine, that is widely used by the US military. However the HK416 is independently made and modified. Currently the HK416 it is used by more than 20 countries, mainly by special forces and law enforcement agencies.

In terms of appearance the HK416 resembles the M4. Due to similarity it has a familiar feel for soldiers, reducing the time needed for retraining. It uses a patented gas piston system, derived from the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle. This new operating system significantly reduced malfunctions and increased life of parts, comparing with the original Colt M4 carbine. The new weapon is much more reliable.

Four models with different barrel lengths are available, including full-size assault rifle, compact assault rifle, carbine and sub-compact assault rifle.

The HK416 has a Picatinny-type scope rail and can be used with various scopes. Furthermore there is accessory rail on all four sides of the forearm. Most current accessories for the M4 andM16 can be used on the HK416, including a 40-mm underbarrel grenade launcher.

 

[Zarvan]

Heckler & Koch G36 (Germany)

The G36 assault rifle has been designed by Heckler & Koch to replace the G3 rifle in service with the Bundeswehr. Since 1995 the G36 is a standard issue infantry rifle with the German armed forces. This weapon is an export success. It has been exported to more than 40 countries around the world.

The Heckler & Koch G36 is chambered for a standard NATO 5.56x45 mm ammunition. It is a conventional gas operated, selective fire weapon. It uses some proven elements of the previous G3 rifle design. Internally it also bears a lot of similarity with the US Armalite AR-18 automatic rifle. Sophistication was eschewed in favor of reliability. Weapon has a simple layout. During trials a prototype of the HK G36 was rated higher than the Austrian Steyr AUG.

This assault rifle is manufactured using the most modern technologies.

This assault rifle is fed form 30-round box-shaped magazines, made form translucent plastic. Two or three magazines can be clipped together for rapid reloading. This weapon is also compatible with a 100-round dual drum magazines. After some adjustments this rifle can accept any standard NATO 5.56x45 mm magazine.

Sights are built into the carrying handle. A standard German Army rifle has a dual sight system. It consists of one 3.5x magnification scope, for long-range accurate shooting and one 1x magnification red dot sight above it, for close ranges.

This rifle is compatible with the HK AG36 40-mm underbarrel grenade launcher. It can also launch barrel-mounted riffle grenades.

Overall the G36 lacks fancy bells and whistles, but is modern, light, accurate, rugged and reliable weapon. It is not as reliable as the AK-100 series weapons, but definitely makes up for it by its astounding precision. Also the G36 is simple in operation and maintenance.


Heckler & Koch HK416 (Germany)

The HK416 assault rifle was developed by Heckler & Koch company in the 1990s to meet US Army's Delta Force requirement. It is and improved version of the M4 carbine, that is widely used by the US military. However the HK416 is independently made and modified. Currently the HK416 it is used by more than 20 countries, mainly by special forces and law enforcement agencies.

In terms of appearance the HK416 resembles the M4. Due to similarity it has a familiar feel for soldiers, reducing the time needed for retraining. It uses a patented gas piston system, derived from the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle. This new operating system significantly reduced malfunctions and increased life of parts, comparing with the original Colt M4 carbine. The new weapon is much more reliable.

Four models with different barrel lengths are available, including full-size assault rifle, compact assault rifle, carbine and sub-compact assault rifle.

The HK416 has a Picatinny-type scope rail and can be used with various scopes. Furthermore there is accessory rail on all four sides of the forearm. Most current accessories for the M4 andM16 can be used on the HK416, including a 40-mm underbarrel grenade launcher.

G36 is a disaster and HK-417 can be great option. Pakistan is also testing news Guns to replace G3. As for India it seem upgraded INSAS is going to be another failure

 

[Kickstarter101]

As for India it seem upgraded INSAS is going to be another failure

I certainly hope not. I hope all these Indian private companies getting into defence manufacturing will one day come up with good guns.

 

[Vapnope]

What happened to Excalibur rifle? Some months back IHS Janes reported Indian army is pushing ahead with Excalibur
Made in India rifle to replace INSAS: Modified Excalibur currently undergoing trials to meet Army requirements | Daily Mail Online
Indian Army pushes ahead with Excalibur rifle programme | IHS Jane's 360

 

[Zarvan]

What happened to Excalibur rifle? Some months back IHS Janes reported Indian army is pushing ahead with Excalibur
Made in India rifle to replace INSAS: Modified Excalibur currently undergoing trials to meet Army requirements | Daily Mail Online
Indian Army pushes ahead with Excalibur rifle programme | IHS Jane's 360

It seem it has failed to meet expectations.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

I find it hilarious that they had to drop their requirement for a multi caliber rifle, because none of the contenders passed.

DRDO followed the requirement, has prototypes in developmental trials, now what comes of it?

If they wanna talk about make and design in India - This is it.


You were forced to make your own SSBNs, SLBMs, space launchers, aircraft carriers, ICBMs, what have you, this is nothing.

 

[Paranoid Android]

Ye kab tak chalega..10 saal se ek hi baat sun raha

 

[knight11]

G36 is a disaster and HK-417 can be great option. Pakistan is also testing news Guns to replace G3. As for India it seem upgraded INSAS is going to be another failure

Everything from India whether INSAS, Tejas, or Arjun is a failure. The so called expert declared it a failure, without using it or have anything called indegenous developement or living in a illusion that the license producing is called the indegenous product.

But when I talked to various persons who actually uses it, they like this weapon, pretty accurate, low recoil, and look how someone is declaring it a failure, when the above have been inducted in huge qty in Indian armed forces, and have proved its meetle in the Kargil War, giving its survice to the extreme hot environment of Rajastan and extreme cold environment of Siachin Glacier, and have been exported to Oman, Nepal, and Bhutan. Their are some idoiots who don't understand a simple thing that INSAS is a battle riffle, and the army prefer AK-47 aka 7.2mm high gauge bullets for the anti-insurgency operation. Thats how even US army uses AK-47 in Iraq and afganistan for some of their operations.

INSAS is our product and by default it is been designed to fulfill our requirement. All small glitches in INSAS have been long rectified, and the wt issue is due to the fact of mettalurgy, which could be easily modified, but also the cost.
Excallibur, is the latest weapon which will be replace the INSAS and is the modified INSAS, which removes one major problem with the the INSAS i.e the modularality, so that it will easily equiped with the stateof the art ready to serve Optronics and add-on system on its rail carriage.

 

[surya kiran]

IA NEXT GENERATION ASSAULT WEAPON is currently being developed by DARPA. It will be available by 2050. By which time, IA will want the Next next generation assault weapon.

 

[Zarvan]

Everything from India whether INSAS, Tejas, or Arjun is a failure. The so called expert declared it a failure, without using it or have anything called indegenous developement or living in a illusion that the license producing is called the indegenous product.

But when I talked to various persons who actually uses it, they like this weapon, pretty accurate, low recoil, and look how someone is declaring it a failure, when the above have been inducted in huge qty in Indian armed forces, and have proved its meetle in the Kargil War, giving its survice to the extreme hot environment of Rajastan and extreme cold environment of Siachin Glacier, and have been exported to Oman, Nepal, and Bhutan. Their are some idoiots who don't understand a simple thing that INSAS is a battle riffle, and the army prefer AK-47 aka 7.2mm high gauge bullets for the anti-insurgency operation. Thats how even US army uses AK-47 in Iraq and afganistan for some of their operations.

INSAS is our product and by default it is been designed to fulfill our requirement. All small glitches in INSAS have been long rectified, and the wt issue is due to the fact of mettalurgy, which could be easily modified, but also the cost.
Excallibur, is the latest weapon which will be replace the INSAS and is the modified INSAS, which removes one major problem with the the INSAS i.e the modularality, so that it will easily equiped with the stateof the art ready to serve Optronics and add-on system on its rail carriage.

You want to tell me entire Indian Army doesn't about weapons. Your own Army is testing Guns to replace a Gun which was only introduced in 1996 and your new Gun is not proving to be that good. As for Arjun and Tejas whole world knows How big disasters they are

 

[Jamwal's]

MCIWS

 

[ni8mare]

Tejas whole world knows How big disasters they are

Tells us about how disaster they are

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Everything from India whether INSAS, Tejas, or Arjun is a failure. The so called expert declared it a failure, without using it or have anything called indegenous developement or living in a illusion that the license producing is called the indegenous product.

But when I talked to various persons who actually uses it, they like this weapon, pretty accurate, low recoil, and look how someone is declaring it a failure, when the above have been inducted in huge qty in Indian armed forces, and have proved its meetle in the Kargil War, giving its survice to the extreme hot environment of Rajastan and extreme cold environment of Siachin Glacier, and have been exported to Oman, Nepal, and Bhutan. Their are some idoiots who don't understand a simple thing that INSAS is a battle riffle, and the army prefer AK-47 aka 7.2mm high gauge bullets for the anti-insurgency operation. Thats how even US army uses AK-47 in Iraq and afganistan for some of their operations.

INSAS is our product and by default it is been designed to fulfill our requirement. All small glitches in INSAS have been long rectified, and the wt issue is due to the fact of mettalurgy, which could be easily modified, but also the cost.
Excallibur, is the latest weapon which will be replace the INSAS and is the modified INSAS, which removes one major problem with the the INSAS i.e the modularality, so that it will easily equiped with the stateof the art ready to serve Optronics and add-on system on its rail carriage.

Do you seriously want to talk about Arjun or lca lol.

S for insaan export to oman,Nepal or bhutan.. Oman never got it and Nepal hates it (which they say was pushed down their throat and has heating and jamming issues and was given for free..)... Does Bhutan have an army?

 

[Pandora]

Every time an Indian product comes out somehow it just cant meet expectations. From my point of view Excalibur should be inducted for specialised operations. Rest for a battle field rifle they should look for a replacement.