Small Arms & Tactical Equipment

[hellbent]

Indian private company Hi-Tech Robotic Systemz Ltd. (THRSL) tactical surveillance products in service with indian armed forces.

Intelligent Remote Information Sensor (IRIS): This product has been delivered to armed forces of the country to carry out surveillance operations to get the defence personnel a strategic advantage during counter terrorist operations. 360 degree Audio and Video Coverage Night Vision Capability Audio / Video transmission to a remote operator unit Control over rotating of the device for 360 degree coverage Operations for 2 hours. Ability to detect humans and human voice

Mobile Robot for ISR operations – MOLE: This mobile robot for rugged Intelligent Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations has been successfully developed and delivered to various armed forces. It is a multi-terrain wireless surveillance robot designed for personnel engaged in counter terrorism, law enforcement search and rescue amongst many other activities

 

[Ashwin]

Army inches closer to getting advanced assault rifles, carbines, machine guns

NEW DELHI: The procurement of more than 70,000 advanced assault rifles, around 90,000 carbines and a large quantity of Light Machine Guns mainly for the army on a fast track basis has moved a step forward with the defence ministry today issuing Request for Proposals for the weapons, top ministry sources said.

The RFPs which also looks at meeting the requirements of the other defence services have been given to about 12 vendors, said sources. A RFP consists of the general specifications of an equipment, the numbers required, delivery timeframe, commercial aspects and evaluation criteria.

The primary weapon for the army is the assault rifle and the army in the RFP has specified that it should have an effective range of 500 m. Experts said that this is a perfect range for such a weapon, because anything beyond this changes the trajectory of the bullet due to the wind affect.

“The rifle will have a calibre of 7.62x41mm bullets and should weigh less than four kg,” said sources.

This calibre is more lethal than the 5.56mm calibre INSAS rifle being currently used by the army, added experts. The 7.62mm ammunition has longer range and better accuracy. Sources said that the Chinese PLA uses 7.62mm calibre rifles and the new assault rifle being procured by the army is to counter this. This assault rifle is being procured for the frontline soldiers, who have to engage the adversary first.

Even the carbines and Light Machine Guns (LMGs) being procured on fast-track basis are also for the frontline troops. The three weapons will be procured without the relevant sights such as telescopic sight and night vision sight, which will be procured separately.


The progress in the procuring these weapons is important because the ones being currently used by the army are obsolete and have major problems, preventing their proper functioning. For instance, the army’s existing assault rifle is the INSAS, which was inducted around the time of the

Kargil War
, often jams when fired and its magazine easily breaks when it hits a hard object. The gun barrel also cannot be changed to the 7.62mm ammunition. Similar problems also affect the INSAS LMG. The ‘burst firing’ capability, which is firing three rounds in one-go, in the two weapons is also erratic. The 9mm carbine used by the army is of the World War-II vintage and often self-fires.

“These are some of the major problems we are looking at removing in the procurement of the new assault rifles, carbines and LMGs,” explained sources.

On January 16 this year, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cleared the procurement of 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines on a fast track basis for Rs 3,547 crore. The fast track process of the defence procurement procedure is to ensure expeditious procurement of urgent requirements of the regular and special forces. It covers acquisitions under the ‘Buy category’ or outright purchase. It can also be for cases where delay is adversely impacting the forces.

For around a decade, the army has been trying to replace the INSAS rifle. It had rejected the DRDO’s Excalibur and Ghatak rifles as replacements, due to not meeting firepower requirements. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat when addressing the media in January had admitted to the delay, which was also due to changing the product specifications and looking for a rifle with a changeable barrel. General Rawat had also said that the new assault rifle with the 500 m range will be for the frontline soldiers and the other arms will be given an indigenous rifle to be made by the ordnance factories and the private industry.

In relation, the DAC on February 13 approved the procurement of seven lakh forty thousand assault rifles for the three services, which are to be made in India at an estimated cost of Rs 12,280 crore. The DAC then also cleared the procurement of an “essential quantity” of LMGs on fast track basis. On February 28, the DAC approved the procurement of 41,000 LMGs and over 3.5 lakh close quarter battle carbines under the Buy and Make (Indian) category.

 

[Parthu]

The RFPs which also looks at meeting the requirements of the other defence services have been given to about 12 vendors, said sources.

Would be nice if we can learn who those vendors are.

 

[Vergennes]

These are the BPJs from Tata Advanced Materials that will be Army's standard-issue BPJ vest. Thanks to Shatrujeet!

No MOLLE,no load carriage system,no modularity,no other configuration possible.... With all due respect,have those who designed it ever served as soldiers or asked active soldiers for their feedback or opinions ?

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

Few Days back , I got to evaluate these X-95 in service with BSF . Though it appeared to me that this weapon has been much overhyped for being from a Tavor family. It is over-weight for its role and pretty short-ranged. Its main sight MEPRO MOR is prone to damage and is not of rugged build though. The only positive signs I saw in it are : Quite compact , Good accuracy , less recoil and good reliability.

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

Another weapon I got to see was the Mx4 Storm Carbine. Except its 9mm Parabellum round capability , I found this weapon quite good , lightweight , accurate and more. The reliability is questionable since it jammed before me while firing. Maintenance is a bit complex so jawans find it difficult to work with. However these were good replacement for the Sterling Carbines , BSF earlier used. Moreover jawans are quite happy with it. However there are multiple reports that these weapons were inducted due to 'dalali' after high officials from BSF took kick-backs from Beretta to induct this weapon. It also failed in Army trials. For now as long as BSF have this , they will not be looking at JVPC again

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

Speaking to a Para SF officer who was training his snipers at a field firing range in Rajasthan. The officer said, “Galil Sniper Rifle was good only up till 600 meters. Draganov is still a better option, it is very accurate even at 1000m. Why are we replacing them? I wonder”.

Tweet by Danvir Singh Chauhan

On my conversation to an ex-IA marksman ( served in IPKF and Kashmir ) , SVD is the favourite for all Indian Snipers and Marksmen alike and can well target upto 1300 metres ( an IA marksman with Grenadiers actually did it in Kargil War ). Bolt Action rifles in IA like SSG3000 , SP-66 and SSG-69 are used for extreme long ranges.

 

[Parthu]

Trichy AR in different stock options; Left to Right - AR-15 style telescopic (collapsible) stock, Side-folding stock (first time I'm seeing this on TAR), traditional AK-style fixed stock:

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

Barret M107A1 .50BMG in service with the Indian Army with JAK LI Regiment. This is also used by Mumbai Police QRT and BSF

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

While going through the RSTV episode on NSG, I realized that this was the first time I saw tactical camera balls used by the NSG. These camera orbs are available from a range of manufacturers and provide a discreet way of observing a location prior to entry:

BounceImaging Explorer Tactical Sphere

Recon Scout CT Micro robot

These are also used by Para SF and MARCOS nowadays

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

Colt 9mm SMG with EOTech Holographic sight in service with OCTOPUS cdo of Andhra Pradesh

Via : Team Shatrujeet

Colt 9mm was developed around 1980s to supplement 9 x 19mm SMGs in various SWAT forces in the US,mostly H&K MP-5.
Colt Designers were overlooking compactness of 9mm parabellum in lieu of versatiliy of 5.56 x 45mm. Thus,when they finally realised even in era of automatic carbines,9 x 19mm still has a chance in law enforcement forces.they started developing a new 9mm SMG predominantly based on M16.

The main reason behind choosing M16 as base platform was mainly because of requirement - A large chunk of SWAT Commandos and other law enforcement staff in police forces there consisted of ex-military guys and combat veterans who had seen actual combat in many places
so having a gun that is ergonomically similar to their service rifle M16 would drastically cut training times on a new weapon.

Designers at colt, initially developed an Open Bolt Gun in M16 Shell with two safeties. One being conventional safety at fire selector,and other was Grip Safety,quite an Uzi type,to be honest.

This Open Bolt 9mm variant also took modified Uzi mags (since they were straight compared to curved magazines on MP-5,putting them on modified mag well won't be much difficult.Though early mags for MP-5 were straight as well,but ultimately they chose Uzi mags).

They faced some severe issues in very first variant of the gun such as Ejection on this one was quite violent and early variant SMG didn't have a case deflector. Recoil was comparatively violent,hence controllability issues and so.

That simple 'jugaad' of putting a Uzi mag on gun by a simple magazine insert 'adapter' thingy didn't perform so well and some jams occured.
They learned their lessons from this early prototype and realised a dedicated receiver and bolt carrier was needed for such gun.
In later variant,they prefered a closed bolt gun. Plus,they removed 9mm bolt and simplified Bolt Carrier to make it a complete blowback type design and instead of magazine insert,they designed a special lower receiver with its own unique trigger group (to rectify firing pin breaking issues) and removed that grip safety since it was creating stoppages.
This later version proved quite good SMG and these variant was adopted in many law enforcement agencies as well as military forces as 'Colt 9mm SMG'.




Some Plus of this gun :

+Accuracy was quite excellent
+Very Similar ergonomics to M16,so commonality in training
+Sights were also quite similar to M16
+Since this SMG was of simple blowback type closed bolt gun,reliability on this design was quite superior to other 9mm SMGs

but all things apart,greatest + of this gun was..

This SMG alone was able to fire many different types of 9mm Ammos without much issues. Operator can fire both normal,subsonic or low pressure cartridges and +P (High Pressurised) - all these major type of rounds in same gun.
Compared to MP-5 this 9MM SMG is quite superior gun,but still MP-5s are predominant in this caliber group because of their early inception and quite prolific numbers it is too hard to avoid the MP-5.

Colt still sells these 9mm SMGs,and current gen ones are modernised with P-Rails and other features. ^^Wish we had procured these 9MM SMGs instead of beretta MX4 storm with BSF ( though we tested it in trials and it supposedly failed ).

@Johny_Baba

 

[Parthu]

OFB 7.62x51mm LMG:

Colt 9mm SMG with EOTech Holographic sight in service with OCTOPUS cdo of Andhra Pradesh

Via : Team Shatrujeet
View attachment 2222


Colt 9mm was developed around 1980s to supplement 9 x 19mm SMGs in various SWAT forces in the US,mostly H&K MP-5.
Colt Designers were overlooking compactness of 9mm parabellum in lieu of versatiliy of 5.56 x 45mm. Thus,when they finally realised even in era of automatic carbines,9 x 19mm still has a chance in law enforcement forces.they started developing a new 9mm SMG predominantly based on M16.

The main reason behind choosing M16 as base platform was mainly because of requirement - A large chunk of SWAT Commandos and other law enforcement staff in police forces there consisted of ex-military guys and combat veterans who had seen actual combat in many places
so having a gun that is ergonomically similar to their service rifle M16 would drastically cut training times on a new weapon.

Designers at colt, initially developed an Open Bolt Gun in M16 Shell with two safeties. One being conventional safety at fire selector,and other was Grip Safety,quite an Uzi type,to be honest.

This Open Bolt 9mm variant also took modified Uzi mags (since they were straight compared to curved magazines on MP-5,putting them on modified mag well won't be much difficult.Though early mags for MP-5 were straight as well,but ultimately they chose Uzi mags).

They faced some severe issues in very first variant of the gun such as Ejection on this one was quite violent and early variant SMG didn't have a case deflector. Recoil was comparatively violent,hence controllability issues and so.

That simple 'jugaad' of putting a Uzi mag on gun by a simple magazine insert 'adapter' thingy didn't perform so well and some jams occured.
They learned their lessons from this early prototype and realised a dedicated receiver and bolt carrier was needed for such gun.
In later variant,they prefered a closed bolt gun. Plus,they removed 9mm bolt and simplified Bolt Carrier to make it a complete blowback type design and instead of magazine insert,they designed a special lower receiver with its own unique trigger group (to rectify firing pin breaking issues) and removed that grip safety since it was creating stoppages.
This later version proved quite good SMG and these variant was adopted in many law enforcement agencies as well as military forces as 'Colt 9mm SMG'.




Some Plus of this gun :

+Accuracy was quite excellent
+Very Similar ergonomics to M16,so commonality in training
+Sights were also quite similar to M16
+Since this SMG was of simple blowback type closed bolt gun,reliability on this design was quite superior to other 9mm SMGs

but all things apart,greatest + of this gun was..

This SMG alone was able to fire many different types of 9mm Ammos without much issues. Operator can fire both normal,subsonic or low pressure cartridges and +P (High Pressurised) - all these major type of rounds in same gun.
Compared to MP-5 this 9MM SMG is quite superior gun,but still MP-5s are predominant in this caliber group because of their early inception and quite prolific numbers it is too hard to avoid the MP-5.

Colt still sells these 9mm SMGs,and current gen ones are modernised with P-Rails and other features. ^^Wish we had procured these 9MM SMGs instead of beretta MX4 storm with BSF ( though we tested it in trials and it supposedly failed ).

@Johny_Baba

For US, development of 9mm version of AR-15 might make sense. But under what pretext was this bought for Indian unit like OCTOPUS? Was it because HK put a ban on weapon sales to India which prevented us from ordering sufficient quantity of new MP-5s? I have never actually seen OCTOPUS with 5.56 M4s so even the commonality factor (with AR15 types) is thrown out the window, as most forces under MHA don't predominantly train with AR15 - but with AKs, INSAS or SLR.

When they are both chambered for the same calibre, I don't see the point in having two different types of SMGs (they can't even have interchangeable magazines). If they liked the features of Colt 9mm over that of MP5, maybe they should have just standardized the Colt across the board.

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

My best guess is that we were facing problems to get new MP5 SMGs undergoing the non-NATO restrictions from H&K. Thus we went for procuring Colt 9mm instead though we had multiple options for a 9mm SMG like MP9 used by Punjab SWAT and Ghatak.

Here are some more pictures of Colt 9mm with OCTOPUS :

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

The New , The Better : INSAS Mk.1C

INSAS 1C is an improvement of INSAS Excalibur platform chambered for the same 5.56x45mm round but with much more improvements. It uses a sturdier milled receiver made from single block over standard stamped sheet metal receiver used on previous INSAS models like 1b1 , 1b and others. This is an advantage over stamped receiver as OFB had been poorer in stamping procedures who used cheap processes of stamping thus decreasing the gun quality . For example ejector on the INSAS is a separate piece which again is fastened with two rivets instead of a spot welded piece .


Now in a milled block receiver ,internal bolt carrier rails plus the ejector is a part of receiver so it is a much more sturdier build than previous iterations. Even the front trunnion (metal block that holds barrel) is also integrated into receiver block,so that is also an advantage.
OFB has used simplified gas block on it,from one with regulator to AK style 45 degree angled gas block. It also uses Safe-Semi-Auto type fire mods instead of Safe-Semi-3 round burst,so it uses simpler trigger group than what was used in INSAS . The trigger has been straightened so semi-auto firing can be done in 'quick taps'.


Nylon Magazine with steel inserts has been used in INSAS 1C which address the previous issue of magazine cracks. It has a foldable plastic buttstock with rubber pad thus making it compact for close encounters. It also sports a BEL Tri-Netra Holographic Sights on the Picatinny rails. Provision to mount international optical sights, Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), Fore Grip etc are also available.
It also features a new gas block for enhanced reliability. Mk.1C though is a very basic firearm. It lacks Ambidextrous fire selector present in many comparable rifles , Last Round Bolt Hold Open device , Top Rail being short for multi optic function and more like lack of mean to forward bolt (i.e. Forward Assist Device) which is usually absent in guns with non reciprocating charging handles,albeit it would make it a little bit complex to embed one in such charging handle design.


The Rifle 5.56mm Mk 1C is superior to INSAS in terms of weight, reliability, compactness, and aesthetics and has a provision for mounting of accessories like Reflex sights / optical sights, etc. OFB can manufacture such rifles at the rate of 1,00,000 nos. per annum. It can fire upto 450m at maximum though it has the same old 20 round magazine capacity though a 30 round magazine can also be used easily.

Credits : Indian Defence-Debate & Facts

Link :

https://www.facebook.com/IndianDefenceFacts/posts/1964160013836098

 

[Harsh Bardhan]

Since we have no thread on Private Defence Manufacturing in India , I'm posting it here ( Apologies if not the apt place )

Indian Private Company Tonbo Imaging EK uncooled Smart Thermal Weapons Sight (STWS) , minutes before getting stamped, sealed and delivered to the Indian Armed Forces.

Arjun Thermal Weapons Sight on INSAS

EK Thermal Sight on SVD Sniper Rifles

Indian Private Company Tonbo has developed advanced panoramic night vision goggles (PNVG) which you might have seen in use with US Navy SEALS and European Special Forces Operators.
BNVD-P is an advanced panoramic night vision goggles (PNVG) with advanced features and performance so pilots and aircrew including SOF Operators can accomplish difficult night missions successfully and safely.

 

[Parthu]

Since we have no thread on Private Defence Manufacturing in India , I'm posting it here ( Apologies if not the apt place )

This is the right place all right...

++++

via INDRA Networks

Officer from Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) at Small Arms Factory Kanpur, testing out the JVPC:

 

[Himanshu]

Govt firms up plans for made-in-India Kalashnikov rifles

The government has firmed up plans with Russia to manufacture the famous Kalashnikov rifles in India for the Army, which now has changed specifications that allow AK-103 rifles to fit the bill. ET has reliably learnt that a high level team headed by the Director General (Acquisitions) in the defence ministry and two representatives from the Ordnance Factory Board will be in Russia later this month to visit and assess the Kalashnikov facility.

The decision to send a team this month was taken following detailed discussions during defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman just-concluded visit to Russia.

India expressed urgency in taking this project forward, asking Russia to fast-track processes so that production can begin in India at the earliest. While Russia had extended the proposal last year, India could not take it forward because it did not fulfil the Army’s requirements.

The Army, however, recently put out new specifications for a 7.62 calibre for its assault rifle of which a small number of a ‘hi-tech rifles’ will be imported for its frontline troops. The remaining, which would be in large numbers, is planned to be manufactured in India.

The AK-103 is meant for the second category, which would make it a mainstay of forces in the hinterland and counter-insurgency operations. Those familiar with the details told ET that the same rifle may be considered for paramilitary forces in the long run. The orders are expected to run into lakhs of units.

According to the arrangement with Russia, a Kalashnikov factory will be set up in India in collaboration with the OFB to cater primarily to its military needs, though there would be no bar on export.

The project will be a major image-makeover Kalashnikov rifles in India, which is better known for its deadly and efficient AK-47 variant. This rifle has been made famous by Pakistan-trained terrorists, mostly in the 1990s when they wreaked havoc on Kashmir and other parts of India, forcing upgrades within the Indian Army.

Also, the preferred calibre for counter-insurgency operations has been 5.56 mm as one of the measures to reduce fatalities from among casualties.

But with the AK-103, the default rifle option will be far more deadly. The rifle has a 500-metre range, which is exactly what the Army had specified and weighs about 3.5 kg without magazine as compared to the indigenous 5.56-mm Insas rifle which weighs a little over 4 kg. The rifle can be fitted with different sights and night-vision devices.

Earlier
Источник: "Рособоронэкспорт" вышел из тендеров МВД Индии на закупку автоматов

 

[Himanshu]

India-Russia deal soon on production of AK-series rifles at ordnance factory

A government to government deal between India and Russia will see the AK-series rifles being produced at a state-owned ordnance factory in India.

Government sources told India Today that the proposal was discussed during Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Moscow between April 3-5. A high-level MoD delegation is visiting Russia towards the month end to assess the offer.

The general managers of OFB Trichy and Rifle Factory Ichapore, the two state-owned plants manufacturing assault rifles, are to visit Russia on April 24 a few days before the visit of DG (Acquisition) Apurva Chandra to Moscow. Sources say the G-to-G deal could be concluded before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia this October.

The Kalashnikov concern is offering the AK-103, a modernised version of the AK-47/AKM rifle, numerous quantities of which are in use by the Indian Army, police and paramiltary forces. The AK-103 which is chambered for the 7.62x39 round, the same as the AK-47, uses polymer parts to reduce the weight of the rifle and has a distinctive flash-hider on its barrel. The rifle is used in limited quantities by the Indian Navy's Marine Commando Force.

The AK rifle first entered Indian Army service during the IPKF's deployment in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1991. Since then, vast quantities of AK rifles have been purchased or recovered from terrorists.

Russia's gripe has been that India has only purchased the rifle but from former Warsaw Pact countries which obtained AK-making know-how from the former Soviet Union. These former Warsaw Pact countries shut Russian firms out from the Indian market by selling their weapons at prices the Russian firms could not match. Bulgaria's Arsenal JSC has been the largest exporter of AK-type rifles, supplying hundreds of thousands of rifles to Indian police and paramilitary forces at prices as low as Rs 35,000 per piece. The only threat the Bulgarian firm has had in recent years is from the OFB's Trichy Assault Rifle (TAR) a copy of the Bulgarian AK.

In 2014, the Kalashnikov Concern, the Russian concern, which manufactures the iconic assault rifle, proposed licensed production of the AK-103 as a way to break into the lucrative Indian market. The proposal from the company was forwarded to the Ordnance Factory Board. It was shot down by the Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Defence Production on procedural grounds. The DoDP felt the proposal not only bypassed Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms trading firm which India does business with, but also fair competition norms. The Kalashnikov Concern's recent attempts to tie up with the private sector to build a factory in Gujarat too came a cropper until it was taken up at the highest levels of government.

The Russian proposal is a win-win for both India and Russia. This was the first year that the state-owned Ordnance Factory Board did not get an order from either the army, police or paramilitary for the indigenous INSAS-rifle. The Indian Army, the largest customer for the INSAS, has decided to phase the rifle out of service and replace it with a new battle rifle for which RFPs were recently floated. Other weapons like the TAR, the Ghatak (another AK clone) and the INSAS-1C have attracted a handful of orders, but not enough to keep production at peak capacity of over 30,000 rifles per year. OFB officials said that the stamped-metal receiver body can easily be manufactured at the OFB-T or RFI with no additional investments in plant and machinery.

 

[Himanshu]

Army soldiers get 1.86 lakh new bulletproof jackets after 9-year wait

First look at the SMPP bulletproof jacket Indian Army’s Level III+ BPJ. Boron Carbide Ceramic panels. Neck and groin protection. 10.4 kgs. can stop 7.62x51 ball, 7.62x39 AP, 5.56x45 steel core.

https://twitter.com/x/status/983521553668190208

 

[Himanshu]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1732370936801522