Indian Army to get new rifles

By

Sandeep Ghosh

Sources say five foreign firms — Colt, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Ceska and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) — are in the running to partner the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in bagging the huge project that would eventually cost over Rs 10,000 crore.http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-20/india/35932772_1_assault-rifles-sniper-rifles-detachable-under-barrel-grenade-launchers

It is almost unfortunate that a country that has a successful space program needs to look at foreign vendors for small arms system. I am still hopeful that eventually Indian government will let private manufacturers get into the small arms market to cater to the needs of the armed forces and law enforcement which will provide competition to OFB and in process raising thier quality through competition. 

Insas rifle system has been a very effective low cost solution that utilized the best to offer from three rifle systems, viz. AK47, FN FAL, and the M16. The action, long stroke gas system, rotating bolt, and stamped steel receiver gives it the ruggedness and reliability of an AK47, the Gas regulator from the FAL give it the ability to cycle rounds, even if the rifle’s gas piston is clogged. Although It has a stamped receiver, the tolerances are kept significantly tight along with the lesser reciprocating breach axis offset compared to AK, gives it reliable accuracy. 

Although 5.56x 45 Nato attracts a lot of flak from critics, it is the most flat shooting round upto 300 yards, and is effective up to 600 yards. Although 7.62 x 39, the AK round has better terminal ballistics, the rounds justs drops too much. When 7.62 x 39 is zeroed at 100 yards, the compensation at 400 yards is nearly 60 inches making the target nearly disappear from the sight picture( which is the engagement range for IA positions in LOC), With a 5.56 you will have to compensate lesser, but compromise on terminal ballistics which a fair tradeoff, as you are hitting the target (if not completely neutralizing him). 

Insas is controllable in full auto like the m16, whereas FAL becomes an ack ack in full auto and ak you spray and pray. Please bear in mind when the Insas came out, there was no 6.8 SPC or the 6.5 grendel options hence 5.56 was lesser of evil when it came to developing a battle rifle.

All these mix and match features gave you a reliable, low cost, accurate rifle borrowing on best features of contemporaries and minimizing drawbacks of the each mentioned systems. 

Future of Insas rifle system:

Now India is in a position where stamped low cost rifle is not the need of the hour. New Insas or the F-Insas needs to have a solid machined receiver with high quality metals and precision machining.

New rifle system needs to be modular with 4 barrel systems and 5 quick change receivers, One barrel system can fire both 7.62x 39 and with change in receiver on the same barrel should accommodate the 7.62 x 51 nato (both the cartridges have same bullet but different casing lengths)

There should be dedicated receiver and barrels for , 5.56 Nato, 6.8 SPC and a short barrel system for OFB 5.56 x 30 round as a cqb carbine. The system needs to be a bull-pup system as it brings exclusive advantages of system length, with full length barrel length in a smaller package and lesser muzzle climb. 

Rifle needs to have integrated peep sights, picatinny optics rails on and a quad rail system on the forward grips. Rifle should also have tapped barrels and should come with a breaching flash hiders, a muzzle brake (for 7.62x 51) and a suppressor (for 5.56 x 30).

All the features stated above are achievable, within a new project with proper testing research and validation within a time frame of six months, the first prototypes can be ready within a year, with production lines running within a year, incidentally that is the same period that army usually takes to carry out it's tests and red tape work. 

Tar 21 tavor and Steyr Aug are good platforms to take look at for understanding the proposed rifle system.