Indian Army mulls carbine options
No decision has yet been made on buying new carbines for the Indian Army, but a locally designed solution is now on the table too.
Indecision over scrapping an RfP for 93,895 close-quarters battle carbines for the Indian Army has led to a governmental qunadary on whether to deepen geopolitical ties with the UAE, India’s third-largest trading partner, or follow promises to boost domestic industry.
The UAE’s Caracal’s 5.56mm CAR 816 was declared lowest bidder in 2018. Carbines are critical for the army for counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir and against China in Eastern Ladakh.
In September there were indications the MoD would scrap the deal for a locally manufactured product after the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) declared the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)-designed 5.56
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