India’s new rifle opts for 7.62mm
The Indian Army is rerunning a competition for a general assault rifle to replace the problematic Indian Small Arms System (INSAS).
The specifications for the new rifle have now settled on a weapon of 7.62mm x 51 calibre instead of the 5.56mm/7.62mm convertible type it initially sought.
A new RFI for a replacement 7.62mm assault rifle with a minimum 500m range was issued in September, and submissions closed on 7 November. A tentative date for an RFP for 185,000 rifles was listed as April 2017, with 65,000 of these required within four-28 months of contract signature.
Few Indian procurements proceed smoothly,
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