IA to induct Excalibur as interim assault rifle

[Vergennes]

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The Indian Army plans to temporarily induct locally developed Excalibur assault rifles (similar to this one) into service until it shortlists a 7.62x39 mm rifle for import over the next few years. (Ordnance Factory Board)

The Indian Army (IA) plans to temporarily induct locally developed Excalibur assault rifles into service until it shortlists a 7.62x39 mm rifle for import over the next few years, sources told IHS Jane's on 24 October.

Officials said the IA recently asked the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to supply an unspecified 'large number' of prototype Excalibur rifles to conduct simultaneous testing at various locations around the country to hasten the Excalibur's induction.

"Keeping procurement delays in mind, the army has opted to provisionally employ Excalibur for its infantry and specialised counter-insurgency units, which desperately need an assault rifle," military analyst Lieutenant General Vijay Kapoor (retd) told IHS Jane's .

The Excalibur is an upgraded version of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)-designed Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56x45 mm assault rifle, which the army had rejected in 2010 for being "operationally inadequate".

The gas-operated, selective-fire weapon has a foldable butt, a MIL-STD-1913 'Picatinny' rail system for sights, sensors, and bipods. Its polycarbonate magazine is an improvement compared to that of the INSAS rifle, which is known to frequently crack in extreme hot and cold climates.

The IA's years-long efforts to acquire 66,000 assault rifles and licence-build another 200,000-300,000 to meet pressing operational requirements failed in 2015 after none of the competing foreign models - the Beretta ARX160, the Ceská Zbrojovka CZ 805 BREN, the Israel Weapon Industries ACE 1, and the Colt's Manufacturing Company Colt Combat Rifle - were able to meet IA requirements during trials.

These stipulated that each rifle should weigh no more than 3.6 kg and and be able to convert from 5.56x45 mm to 7.62x39 mm merely by switching their upper receiver and magazine for counter-terrorism operations and conventional employment.

Consequently, the IA initially decided to induct Excalibur into operational service in late 2015.

http://www.janes.com/article/64880/ia-to-induct-excalibur-as-interim-assault-rifle?from_rss=1

 

[R&D]

The Indian Army has decided to go for an indigenous assault rifle to replace the problematic INSAS rifles.

The decision that could save thousands of crores in foreign exchange and boost local manufacture was taken recently by Army Chief General Dalbir Singh. The Army then cancelled a problematic Rs 4,848 crore order for importing Multi Caliber Assault Rifles on June 15 — first reported by Mail Today on July 1.

“We are going in for a designed and Made in India rifle in keeping with the government’s indigenisation thrusts,” senior Army sources told Mail Today.

The performance of the DRDO-designed ‘Excalibur’ assault rifle in trials last month at the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune has further enthused the Army.

The Excalibur had only two stoppages (where the bullet gets stuck in the breech) after 24,000 rounds were fired, close to the Army’s specifications of only one stoppage.

New features

The Excalibur is an improved version of the INSAS rifle and fires 5.56x45 mm ammunition. It has full-automatic capability over the INSAS which can only fire a three-round burst. (designed to save bullets and prevent panic pressing of trigger by soldiers)

The Excalibur barrel is shorter by 4 mm, has a side folding butt stock and features a Picatinny rail, a universal mount that allows a range of weapon sights and sensors to be fitted on the rifle. [/B]

DRDO officials say it will take the OFB’s Rifle Factory Ishapore at least eight months to incorporate design changes suggested by the ARDE and field the first prototypes of what they are calling the ‘Modified INSAS Rifle’ (MIR).

Changes suggested after trials include a smaller handguard and improved polycarbonate magazine.

If the Excalibur/MIR clears trials, it could be in the hands of infantry soldiers within two years, DRDO officials say.

The DRDO is designing a second version of the Excalibur, the AR-2 that fires 7.62x39 mm rounds used by AK-47. The AR-2 will be offered as an alternative to the Russian-origin assault rifle.

The Army’s 2011 tender was for a Multi Caliber Assault Rifle or for a weapon that could fire INSAS and AK-47 ammunition with a barrel change.
Five international firms— Beretta of Italy, Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI), Colt Defense of the U.S., Ceska Zbplojovka of Czech Republic and SiG Sauer of Switzerland—were shortlisted for the trials.

However, Army officials now admit the specifications were poorly drafted and unrealistic.

Multi Calibre Excalibur with hand guard as suggested by Indian Army.

 

[SQ8]

- shortlists a 7.62x39 mm rifle for import over the next few years, sources told IHS Jane's on 24 October.

This is a very myopic approach on the must-import clause for this rifle. Why cant the IA work with DRDO to simply focus on a local rifle? Why this fascination with imports?

 

[Spectre]

This is a very myopic approach on the must-import clause for this rifle. Why cant the IA work with DRDO to simply focus on a local rifle? Why this fascination with imports?

Haven't you heard the legend of Excalibur? Only the worthy may pull it out of stone. Clearly IA fancies itself as the Aurthorian Knights

 

[John Doe]

This is a very myopic approach on the must-import clause for this rifle. Why cant the IA work with DRDO to simply focus on a local rifle? Why this fascination with imports?

I am from Pune, where ARDE ( quoted in the article as the location for the trials ) is situated. I have been to their Open Day ( or whatever it is called ) and seen the INSAS closely.

Believe me, that weapon is so poorly made, even to the eye of a layman! Just to see how the names are etched on the INSAS will remind Indians of how our moms would etch their names on the steel utensils they bought!!!!

And for all the jingoistic Indians reading this , itching to reply: Please tell me if you are willing to buy a government made fan, mixer, scooter, dialysis machine, etc? No? Then why should the soldier risk his life for a government made weapon.
Now if the gun was made by a private company like the TATAs , then I bet it would kick azz!

A long article describing the disappointment that is the INSAS:
https://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?t=9131

 

[R&D]

I am from Pune, where ARDE ( quoted in the article as the location for the trials ) is situated. I have been to their Open Day ( or whatever it is called ) and seen the INSAS closely.

Believe me, that weapon is so poorly made, even to the eye of a layman! Just to see how the names are etched on the INSAS will remind Indians of how our moms would etch their names on the steel utensils they bought!!!!

And for all the jingoistic Indians reading this , itching to reply: Please tell me if you are willing to buy a government made fan, mixer, scooter, dialysis machine, etc? No? Then why should the soldier risk his life for a government made weapon.
Now if the gun was made by a private company like the TATAs , then I bet it would kick azz!

A long article describing the disappointment that is the INSAS:

India has a policy and philosophy that tries to keep away arms from the hands of private players.

Private players will be tempted to sell their arms to the local population and turn India into a violent nation like the US.

It would be better if we can make the Ordinance factory into a public limited company and introduce a few more stakeholders to bring in more professionalism and Quality control.

 

[Kinetic]

I am from Pune, where ARDE ( quoted in the article as the location for the trials ) is situated. I have been to their Open Day ( or whatever it is called ) and seen the INSAS closely.

Believe me, that weapon is so poorly made, even to the eye of a layman! Just to see how the names are etched on the INSAS will remind Indians of how our moms would etch their names on the steel utensils they bought!!!!

And for all the jingoistic Indians reading this , itching to reply: Please tell me if you are willing to buy a government made fan, mixer, scooter, dialysis machine, etc? No? Then why should the soldier risk his life for a government made weapon.
Now if the gun was made by a private company like the TATAs , then I bet it would kick azz!

A long article describing the disappointment that is the INSAS:
https://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php?t=9131

During my college time time I visited to ARDE in Pashan Road as well and I will say the INSAS inducted in early 90s are way good for what Army pay. But its true that its time is over now, we need Excalibur till MCIWS inducted. Note that INSAS has been produced more then 1 million piece.

 

[$@rJen]

OMG.... IA to use local rifles! !!!! Its going to rain heavily

 

[Bheemsen]

This is a very myopic approach on the must-import clause for this rifle. Why cant the IA work with DRDO to simply focus on a local rifle? Why this fascination with imports?

What rifle Pakistan army uses as standard weapon , is it indigenous ?

 

[Kinetic]

What rifle Pakistan army uses as standard weapon , is it indigenous ?

H&k G3, locally manufactured under license i guess.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

The images being shown arent the production model.

 

[Sliver]

so the IA rejected all the contenders. I can only wonder what star wars genre weapons they are looking for? I hope the replacement weapon at least came the closest to their specs?

 

[Water Car Engineer]

so the IA rejected all the contenders. I can only wonder what star wars genre weapons they are looking for? I hope the replacement weapon at least came the closest to their specs?

The multi caliber rifle IA pulled out of. The carbine tender most of the contenders failed trials.

They dont have a multi caliber requirement anymore, but a rifle that can fire 7.62x51. So they're going to repeat the process all over again with new contenders. The INSAS production is over now, so in the mean time, Excalibur will be produced. All in all, they're waste a lot of time. They're doing the same with bullet proof jackets, etc. requirement.

 

[Kinetic]

any video of Excalibur?

 

[Śakra]

so the IA rejected all the contenders. I can only wonder what star wars genre weapons they are looking for? I hope the replacement weapon at least came the closest to their specs?

1 failure per 24,000 rounds. 1 tank for 50 degrees to -20 Celsius. 1 helicopter with a flight ceiling above the Himalayas at full load, 1 plane that can take off and land on said mountains. Indian military has standards that are impossible to meet.