{"id":30588,"date":"2017-10-29T17:37:10","date_gmt":"2017-10-29T12:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/?p=30588"},"modified":"2017-10-29T17:38:35","modified_gmt":"2017-10-29T12:08:35","slug":"indian-army-finalizes-rs-40000-cr-plan-to-replace-ageing-weapons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apnlive.com\/india-news\/indian-army-finalizes-rs-40000-cr-plan-to-replace-ageing-weapons\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Army finalizes Rs 40,000 cr plan to replace ageing weapons"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Army will purchase a large number of LMGs, battle carbines and assault rifles <\/em><\/p>\n

With an aim to replace its ageing and obsolete weapons, the Indian Army has come up with one of its biggest procurement plan for infantry modernization. Under the recently finalized plan, the Army will be purchasing a large number of light machine guns, battle carbines and assault rifles at a cost of about Rs 40,000 crore.<\/p>\n

According to an official source, the Army, with the nod from the defense ministry will be acquiring 7 lakh rifles, 44,000 light machine guns (LMGs) and nearly 44,600 carbines.<\/p>\n

Being the world\u2019s second largest standing army, the Indian Army is now fast-tracking the procurement of its weapon system, keeping in mind the escalating security threats along the country\u2019s borders with Pakistan and China.<\/p>\n

Other than the infantry modernization process, the government has also written to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) <\/a>to accelerate the advancement of small arms, particularly the LMGs.<\/p>\n

Months back, with just one vendor left after a series of field trials, the defense ministry scrapped the tender of the 7.62 caliber guns. However, sources have asserted that government will be issuing a fresh request for information (RFI) to acquire light machine guns. The initial plan is to purchase around 10,000 LMGs.<\/p>\n

As reported by PTI, a senior official who is also a part of the much-needed procurement process said, \u201cThe General Service Quality Requirements (GSQR) for the new assault rifle has been finalized. The procurement plan will soon be placed before the DAC for approval.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Army is in a dire need of around 7 lakh 7.62*51 mm assault guns to replace its INSAS rifles, the procurement process has been delayed in several instances for various reasons including the Army\u2019s negligence to finalize the specifications for it.<\/p>\n

Earlier in June, the Indian Army <\/a>initiated the primary process to acquire 44,600 carbines. Similar tender of procuring weapons was withdrawn due to a single-vendor situation some eight months ago. To avoid the problem of single vendor, the army has now tweaked a variety of specifications for LMGs and battle carbines.<\/p>\n

A senior army official has reportedly said, \u201cThe infantry modernization plan is a major initiative of the army and it will significantly bolster the overall capability of the foot soldiers.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"