India Re-Launching Global Tender for New-Generation Assault Rifle

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

India Re-Launching Global Tender for New-Generation Assault Rifle

(Source: Forecast International; issued September 28, 2016)

NEW DELHI --- The Indian government is re-launching a global tender for a new-generation standard issue assault rifle to replace the Indian Army's glitch-prone, the domestically-made INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) 5.56mm assault rifle. This promises to be a mega-project for India as it seeks an initial batch of 65,000 rifles to be followed by another 1.2 million produced in India under license.

The multi-billion-dollar program follows in the wake of an earlier failed tender launched in November 2011 that was eventually scrapped in May-June 2015 after the Indian Army claimed that none of the bidders could meet the qualitative requirements of its tender. The fundamental issue was an overly ambitious requirement that the rifle have interchangeable barrels, with the 5.56x45mm primary barrel to serve in conventional warfare missions while a 7.62x39mm secondary barrel would be utilized in counterterrorism actions.

This time the requirement is for a 7.62 x 51mm assault rifle that can also be fitted with a 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher manufactured locally by the ordnance factor in Trichy. The request for information (RFI) issued by the Indian Ministry of Defense on September 27 calls for the new rifles to be "state of the art" in terms of design, metallurgy and performance parameters with the expectation that the new weapon will remain technically capable and relevant for the next 25-30 years.

A request for proposals (RFP) for formal commercial bids is to be issued in April 2017.

 

[Sqr]

A Country like India needs to forget the gandoso thinking of a "State of the Art" weapon by purchasing one of the many of the shelf offerings. Why do these governments continue to waste money year after year.

Ah here's a suggestion, how about an AR!!!

 

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

A Country like India needs to forget the gandoso thinking of a "State of the Art" weapon by purchasing one of the many of the shelf offerings. Why do these governments continue to waste money year after year.

Ah here's a suggestion, how about an AR!!!

The question is: "What assault rifle will come 'after' the AR"?

 

[Canada tail]

State of art. LOL

 

[Sqr]

The question is: "What assault rifle will come 'after' the AR"?

Some things do not require eliminating like the B52, A10 or the 9mm only updating like the AR has seen. Sometimes the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented.

 

[mbogo3]

In less than 25 years many countries will cease to exist ......a conventional war only produces stalemates that only lead to another war....the next series of wars IMO will be biological and nuclear ...so having the latest greatest rifle is irreverent.Another war with Pakistan is a given ,at least they stuck with a decent caliber for what it's worth. Then there's China their neighbor ........bullets don't mean much to them hence taking it up a notch.....this is only foreplay to what's coming..................Harold

 

[CanAm]

Buy AKs in whatever calibre you like from the cheapest source and move on.

 

[one Lonewolf]

What the heck, their cops and security staff use sticks. I'll sell a boat load of Mosins and they ll be happier than a ...........T.

 

[Ironers]

The militaries of the world are pretty much stuck with the designs that are out there until there is a advancement in small arms ammunition.

 

[Daver_II]

Back on topic... let them make something in SA only.... and sell a new rifle here. Win Win

 

[Juster]

They want 7.62x51mm, so a semi version (if indeed it is FA) of whatever that turns out to be would suit me, if you excuse my thinly veiled subtext.
An L1A1 that is not an L1A1 would be nice, no offense.

 

[Eaglelord17]

I could see these rifles having a decent shot. Recently adopted by Turkey, and fairly modern in design.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPT-76

 

[Still alive]

Why are they going back to the x51 rifle as a general issue firearm? Heavier platform, less ammo carried, heavier recoil and less ammo in the rifle. India has a lot of hilly regions esp. in the areas close to their hated neighbour. That's a lot of weight to lug around.
Do they require the x51 round for some special applications specific to their environment?

 

[Waynetheman]

With Indias long and glorious history of firearm design I think I'll stick to proven platforms should they play the civvie market game.

 

[snooze98k]

11th place trophy for you ^^



+1 with reinventing the wheel. How stubborn is that gov'n that they must have 'state of the art'

Should they not demand 90degree functionality for corner shots and semi auto airburst grenades in their tubes?

makes sense to me.

 

[Juster]

If you'll excuse the blatant racism, I think the requirement for full auto 7.62mmx51 will mean there won't be a replacement until the requirement changes. Unless they go back to the L1A1, not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Lee Enfield]

With india's long and "proud" history of "liberating" other people's intellectual property and violating licence agreements in regards to small arms, I really can't see anyone licencing them anything.

Think FN-FAL, High Power, Mag58, Sterling L2A3...

All of the FNs were "reverse engineered" and the Sterling licence agreement prohibited export...

 

[Dorian Gray]

G3?

 

[Kudu]

Tavor in 7.62x51 - they can have them in any color from 'Bollywood yellow' to 'sacred cowpoop green'

just think how it would wind their "Moslem neighbours"up - knowing that they are geting shot at with Israeli rifles........ Lol.

I'm pretty sure that the Israelis would allow them to make the muzzle brakes and magazines in India 'under licence'

 

[Juster]

T2 Garands, "Made in Canada". We can give it a name offensive to Canadians, like "The Beaver" or "Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott".
IWI Galil Ace in 7.62 NATO.
X95 Tavor.
Norinco M14S.