World's 'largest weapon-maker' is in India

Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment has to its credit the world's largest production run of weapons and ammunition with the Indian army ordering more than a million weapons and several hundred million rounds of ammunition.

The Indian Small Arms System project, estimated at Rs 30 billion, to supply a 5.56 mm small arms system, has been developed by an ARDE team to fulfil the demand for light-weight arms for the infantry.

Ergonomic design, less recoil and better logistics, including interchangeability of parts for the three weapons in five versions are some of the characteristics of the new system.

INSAS, which are being slowly inducted into the Indian army following several field trials, consists of a rifle in fixed and foldable butt versions effective up to 400 metres, a light machine gun in fixed and foldable versions effective up to 700 metres, a carbine in foldable version with an effective range of 200 metres and a variety of ammunition.

The INSAS ammunition is claimed to have outclassed the contemporary 5.56 mm North Atlantic Treaty Organisation rounds. An official release, quoting trials of NATO ammunition from five countries on the INSAS by infantry schools, said, "The overall performance of INSAS ammunition was superior in respect of accuracy, consistency, and penetration''.

The Pune-based ARDE has also developed technologies including the chromoplating of barrels, which increases life three-fold, the production of a sheet metal main body and other components which reduces weight drastically, the inclusion of engineering plastics for furniture items and a heat-resistant hand guard and magazine in 20- and 30-round versions.

The design of a three-round burst mechanism for rifle, which improves the probability of a hit is a special features of the INSAS design.

The rifle is in full-scale production at the rifle factory in Ichapore, with a turnout of 40,000 rifles in 1996-97, expected to rise to 80,000 per annum by 1999, the release said.

The LMG has been accorded bulk production clearance and production will start at the Small Arms Factory, Kanpur. The carbine is in he final stages of troop trials and is expected to be given clearance for bulk production shortly.

The INSAS weapon system has allegedly been tested rigorously by various defence establishments, including the ARDE and army units.

Insas has also been accepted by paramilitary forces, with National Security Guard being ARDE's first customer. About 50 million rounds of ball ammunition has been supplied to the army so far, the release said.