Small Arms, Hand Guns, Weapons of

Indian Army
This article is all about various small arms and ammunition, weapons of Indian
Army. The list includes the details of fire arms, small guns, Machine guns,
Carbines, Light Machine Guns (LMG), Heavy machine guns, Assault Rifles etc
used by Indian Armed Forces.
Indian Army at present uses mixture of foreign procured as well as indigenous
weapons mainly for the needs of small arms and hand guns. Most of the indigenous
weapons are developed by ARDE (Armament Research and Development
Establishment) which is sister concern of DRDO and produced by Indian Ordnance
Factories. India is still much reliant on foreign countries for weapons, arms and
ammunition. India is also the biggest arms exporter of the world although
initiatives are being taken through Make in India process for focussing the
development and production of arms and ammunition inside India only.

History of Small Arms, Hand Guns, Weapons of Indian Army

Indian army traditionally had been using Lee Enfield bolt action type rifles. These rifles were
technologically old and getting obsolete and a need to phase out all these weapons was extreme
necessity. The crushing defeat of Indian Army by Chinese forces in 1962 is attributted to the use
of age old bolt action (Lee Enfield) rifles. By the time of Indo-Pakistan war of 1965, Indian army
had been equipped with 7.62 mm SLR (similar to L1A1 FN-FAL Belgian self loading rifles)
whose technology was procured from Belgium, and was developed indigenously by Rifle
Factory Ishapore (RFI). This is to note that origianl FN-FAL Belgian – L1A1 rifles were inch
type and it was modified to metric system by RFI. The need for the home grown small arms and
weapons was felt and The Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) was conceptualized, and hence
INSAS came out to existence in year 1990. However since the actual production of INSAS rifles
was long term project, to cater the quick demand of Indian Army and to phase out the Lee
Enfield bolt action rifles, AKM (modernized AK 47) rifles were purchased from Russia.
Originally only three different models for INSAS were planned – INSAS – Assault rifle, INSAS
Carbine and INSAS LMG (Light machine gun). The development work of INSAS was
completed by ARDE – Pune, and the mass production of Assault rifle and LMG started in year
1997. The INSAS rifles were based on 5.56×45 mm cartridges as against the 7.62×39 mm
cartrdidges of AKM Klashnikov rifles of Russia. The unavailability of 5.56×45 mm ammunition
and lack of interchangeability with AKM/AK 47 cartridges further delayed the induction of rifles
to Indian Army. INSAS assault rifles witnessed its first use during Kargil war of 1999.
List of Small Arms, Hand Guns, Weapons of Indian Army
imported from outside
The list below shows some of the most important arms and weapons of Indian Army
including Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. These weapons serve as backbone of Indian
Army. Most of these imported weapons are used by special forces of Indian Army
like MARCOS, GARUD, NSG Commandos, GHATAK, COBRA(Commando
Battalion for Resolute Action), SPG (Special Protection Group), SFF (Special Frontier
Force) etc.

Weapon Type Caliber From Details Status

Steel magazine weight 819 gm,
Assault Rifle,
Wt 3.1 Kg empty/3.9 Kg
Gas 7.62x39
AKM Rifle USSR loaded, Barrel length 415 mm, In Service
Operated, mm
Range 350 m, Fire Rate 600
Rotating Bolt
RPM

Plastic magazine weight 739

7.62x39 gm, Wt 3.6 Kg empty/4.3 Kg
AK 103 Assault Rifle Russia In Service
mm loaded, Barrel length 415, Fire
rate 600

Wt 3.17 Kg, barrel length 406

T91 Assault 5.56x45
Assault Rifle Taiwan mm, Range 400 m/600 m, Fire in use by Special Forces
Rifle mm
Rate 850 RPM

Assault Rifle,
Wt 3.27 Kg empty, Barrel
IMI Tavor TAR Gas 5.56x45
Israel length 460 mm, Range 550 m, in use by Special Forces
21 Operated, mm
Fire Rate 900 RPM
Rotating Bolt

Wt 2.8 Kg empty/3.4 Kg
5.56x45
M4 Carbine Assault Rifle USA loaded, Barrel length 370 mm, in use by Special Forces
mm
Range 500 m, Fire Rate 950

Wt 3.5 Kg empty, Barrel length

Sub Machine
Micro Uzi 9x19 mm Israel 260 mm, Range 200 m, Fire in use by Special Forces
gun
Rate 600 RPM

Wt 2.5 Kg, Barrel length 225

Heckler & Koch Sub Machine
9x19 mm Germany mm, Range 200 m, Fire Rate in use by Special Forces
MP5A2 Gun
800

7.62x51 Wt 6 Kg, Mag. Size 10, Range

Mauser SP66 Sniper Rifle Germany in use by Special Forces
mm 600 m,

Wt 4 Kg empty, Barrel length

Galil Sniper 7.62x51
Sniper Rifle Israel 535 mm, Mag Size 25, Range in use by Special Forces
Galatz mm
600 m, Fire Rate 650

Wt 25 Kg/41 Kg with Tripod,

Heavy 12.7x108 used as mountings of
NSV Russia Range 1500 m, Fire Rate 780
Machine Gun mm Tanks
RdPM
Weapon Type Caliber From Details Status

List of Small Arms, Hand Guns, Weapons of Indian Army

developed indegenously

Gun Type Caliber Details Status

Weight 4.1 Kg loaded, Barrel
INSAS Assault Rifle, Single shot, 3
5.56x45 length 464 mm, Range 400 m, Fire In Service
1B1/1B2 round burst
Rate 650 RPM,

Weight 6.23 Kg empty/6.73 Kg

Light Machine Gun,Used for loaded, Barrel length 535 mm,
INSAS LMG 5.56x45 In Service
Cover fire in field Range 700 meter, Fire Rate 650
RPM

Weight 3.81 Kg, Barrel length 400

Long range assault Rifle, Gas Under
Excalibur 5.56x45 mm, Range 400 m, Fire Rate 700
Operated Trials
RPM,

Long Range, Multi Caliber Weight 3.4 Kg empty/4 Kg loaded,

Under
MCIWS assault rifle, Gas Operated, 5.56x45, 7.62x39 Range 500 m, Fire Rate 650 RPM,
Trials
rotating bolt 30 round plastic magazine

Weight 2.98 Kg empty, Barrel

Under
MSMC Carbine/Submachine Gun 5.56x30 length 300 mm, Range 300 m, Rate
Trials
of Fire 900 RPM

Weight 2.95 Kg empty, Barrel

Rotary Bolt, Closed breech, length 330 mm,Range 200 m, Fire
Amogh Carbine 5.56 x 30 In Service
Close Quarter Combat weapon Rate 700 RPM, 30 Rounds
magazine,

Weight 3.6 Kg, Barrel length 333

Personal defense Assault Rifle, Under
Kalantak Micro 5.56x45 mm, Range 300 meter, Fire rate
Gas operated Trials
700 RPM

Weight 25 Kg, Barrel length 1100

Anti Material Rifle, Multi 12.7x107,
Vidhwansak mm, Carried by 2 men, Range 1800 In Service
Caliber, Manual bolt action 14.5x114, 20x82
m, 3 round magazine

Weapons of Indian Army : INSAS Assault Rifle 1B1, 1B2

This is the standard rifle of Indian small arms system which uses gas operated
system to eject the blank cartridges and load the fresh one. It utilizes 5.56×45
mm NATO ammunition. It is equipped with telescopic day view or passive
night sight mouting, a bayonet (knife mounted in front). ARDE 40 mm
Grende launcher can also be mounted on this assault rifle. The standard
version of this assault rifle comes in black furniture and this has a range of
400 meter. The magazine of this assault rifle has 20 rounds capacity. 1B1 is
the straight fixed butt while 1B2 model is the folding butt type. It has
capacity of single round fire or three round burst fire. This rifle is
manufactured at Ordnance factory Tiruchirappalli. These assault rifles are
soon scheduled to be replaced by Excalibur rifles.

Weapons of Indian Army : INSAS LMG (Light Machine Gun)

The only difference between INSAS assault rifle and LMG is that the LMG has a range
of 700 meter as compared to 400 meter range of standard rifle. The LMG version is
equipped with long and heavier barrel as compared to the standard assault rifle. It comes
with mounting bipod to take-on the long rage targets easily. The magazine of LMG has
30 rounds [Link] LMG comes in two versions – fixed but or folding butt.

Weapons of Indian Army : Excalibur Assault Rifle

Excalibur is the modified version of its predecessor INSAS assault rifle and utilizes
similar ammunition of 5.56×45 mm NATO standard. Presently the Excalibur rifle is in
development stage/ trials and is expected to be inducted in Indian Army by end of year
2016. The mass productions of the Excalibur is expected to be complete by 2018. The
modifications in the Excalibur as compared to standard INSAS assault rifle are –
automatic firing, reduced barrel length by 4 mm, folding butt, universal mount for fitting
any type visual aids and sensors. The prototypes of the Excalibur rifle developed at RFI
(Rifle Factory Ishapore) was taken trial by Indian Army last in 2014-15 and found most
of the tests were successful such as only 2 stoppages (cartridge stuck) after 24000 rounds
of fires which was quite close to Indian Army expectations of only one stoppage.
Weapons of Indian Army : Multi Caliber Assault Rifle (MCIWS)

This multi caliber rifle is also called as Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System
(MCIWS). MCIWS multi caliber rifle was designed by ARDE, Pune to keep in mind the
fact that a single weapon should be used for different type of targets. Multi Caliber rifles
gives the flexibility of using various different ammunition like 5.56 mm, 6.8 mm and
7.62 mm just by changing the barrel. Barrels are of different sizes and length designed for
target ranges such as 5.56 mm ammo for target of 400 meter and 7.62 mm ammo for
target range of 300 meter. This multi Caliber rifle gives the liberty to a soldier to
configure its rifle by changing the barrel and magazine just according to the requirements
of the mission. MCIWS is also equipped with Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL)
to launch airbursting 40 mm grenades. It utilizes 30 round plastic magazines. The
picatinny rail mounting ensures a number of universal mountings like day vision cameras
and thermal imaging night vision aids. MCIWS is presently under development stage
and the trials are expected to complete in 2016 end.

Weapons of Indian Army : Kalantak Micro Assault Rifle

It is fully automatic, folding butt, gas operated rifle. This micro assault rifle also uses
NATO standard 5.56×45 mm cartridges. More importance has been given on design
features like ergonomics, aesthetics and reliability. The bore of the barrel is chromium
plated. Barrel length is 300 mm and the total length is 825 mm with extended butt. The
magazine used in Kalantak Micro rifles is poly carbonates with 20/30 rounds capacity.

Weapons of Indian Army : Amogh Carbine

This carbine is quite light weight(2.95 Kg) and is meant for close combat quarter combat
(CQC) missions. It uses 5.56×30 mm ammunition exclusively developed for carbines.
The main design features are ergonomics, ease to carry and use and [Link] is
equipped with ambidextrous lever controls which means both hands can be used to
operate the lever. The bore of the barrel is chromium plated for long endurance. Length
of barrel is 330 mm and total length with extended butt is 800 mm. Amogh carbine uses
30 rounds box type magazine. It is effective for close target ranges of about 200 meter.

Weapons of Indian Army : Modern Sub Machine Carbine

This Carbine is basically a sub-machine gun which was developed by ARDE for Indian
Army. Sub-machine guns are basically those weapons which uses pistol type magazines
and can be fired by single hand. Sub-machine guns hence are also called as machine
pistols. It is comparatively lighter than other rifles designed by ARDE and it weight is
2.98 Kg. It uses 5.56×30 mm MINSAS cartridges. The barrel lenght of this carbine is 300
mm and the effective range for which it could be used is about 300 meter. MSMC utilises
30 rounds grip inserted box type magazines. This carbine is also under trials and the
developement phase is soon expected to be complete in 2016 end.

Vidhwansak Anti Material Rifle (AMR)

This is basically anti material rifle which is meant for destroying huge targets like enemy
bunkers, tanks, tankers, armored vehicles etc. Vidhwansak is equipped with multi caliber
system and also be used as large caliber sniper rifles. 3 different ammunition caliber can
be used by changing the barrels – 14.5×114 mm, 12.7×108 mm, 20×82 mm. The weight
of this Anti material rifle is 25 Kg and hence it is a 2 crew type weapon which means 2
persons are required to operate and dismantle/carry it. Its effective firing range is about
1800 meter and maximum range is 2300 meter. It is manufactured by Ordnance Factory
Tiruchirappalli and is already inducted in Indian Army.