The Indian Army is edging closer in its quest for modern infantry small arms to replace an ageing inventory of more than 40 weapon types. It is ambitiously looking at around $7 billion’s worth of small arms for 360-plus infantry battalions and 100 COIN units through imports and domestic manufacture.
Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, director of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, stated at the recent Conference on Small Arms: ‘Small arms are suitable for future wars. These will not only be required by the armed forces but also paramilitary and police forces, offering great numbers and, as a result,