Zarvan
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There is a big lobby trying to pitch the modern Russian Assault Rifle AK 12 to replace the INSAS from the Indian Infantry, even they don't knows whats the truth behind the AK 12's current Status, the Lobby in India is trying to kill almost all indigenous products and tries to keep on the import and relies the foreign supplier for internal security and war. it's earlier the Russians offered the BMP 3 armored infantry fighting vehicle, If the early government accepts the offer of Russian BMP 3 then we don't see the TATA Kestrel, the same the Swedish Gripen tried as much as it can by forcing the government to drop the LCA and adopt the Gripen for Light Combat Aircraft. same for the Armanta T 14 pitching against the Indigenous Future Ready Combat Vehicle. last but not least now they tries to force down the MCIWS and adopt the Russian standard AK 12, A new assault Rifle based on the AK 74.
Under the Indian Army Modernization program, The Army plans to replace all the older INSAS Assault Rifle with modern light weight Assault Rifle which can fire both small and larger size bullet, so India went for a indigenous options to develop a rifle on it's own, but it's based on the INSAS characteristics, The insas can fire single and three round burst, but will not fire in full automatic mode, so OFB plans to develop a fully Automatic insas rifle and Succeeded, named insas Excalibur, but still it can fires only 5.56mm rounds, used for longer range and better accuracy, they need to hit the enemy in the head or Heart to get precision kill score, also the 5.56 will not penetrate infantry Helmets and Bullet proof Jackets, but the much powerful 7.62x39 mm bullets is lesser range but gives more precession, which can penetrate infantry Helmets and Jackets, even one or two bullets hits anywhere in the Body the enemy became dead because of the wounds.
In next generation scout, a squad consists of LMG, Sniper and Assault Rifles which can fire both small and larger caliber rounds, that's why OFB planned to develop a gun system to fire both small and larger rounds bullets by changing the gun barrel only. means the infantry needs to carry two barrels and he can quickly switch his mode into Conventional to Counter terrorism, but the status of the mciws is currently in development mode, some prototypes already produced and they were in trails for product development, once army Satisfies the production variants, then they put those assault rifles in extensive trails before supplying to the infantry, earlier India tries to import some 60,000 of carbines from Foreign, but all the weapons are failed in the Army trails. makes the ministry closes the tender and develop our own Rifle to work in all tough scenarios, across the country.
The Russians also planned to replace their infantry's basic assault rifle into newer generation Rifle system, the Kalashnikov company who introduced the AK 47 Rifle wins the tender and soon will supply the latest generation AK 12 and AK 103 , which can fire both small and larger caliber rounds by changing the Barrels, currently the Russian Ground forces uses the AK 47, AKM and AK 74 Assault Rifles, But most of the Russian Special forces uses the AKM or the AK 74, compared to AK 74 the AK 12 the outer look only changed, which house modern sight systems like Red dot sight and Scopes, but operational characteristics are same like AK 74M.
Compared to the AK 74 the new rifle costs more, due to modern materials to reduce the weight of the Rifle. Russians plans to use the Rifle with their Army's special forces unit, means only some fifty to seventy thousand of Russian Soldiers will receive the AK 12. others will be replaced only after 2025 or later. the Russian officials accepted the AK 12 only end of last year, means full production will be achieved only after 2017.
So it's clearly if India looks for an Alternate it took another five years, and the Rifle will be handed to Soldier only after 2022. but in comparison AK 12 and MCWIS is almost same, and its developed to sustain tough Indian conditions, unlike the AK 12 designed to stand in Russian scenario's. also the MCIWS provide self sufficient and can be modified whatever the Soldier's requesting, but the same will not for imported items. the Russians told early they have eyes of huge market of the new Rifle same like the AK 47.
So it's a message to the lobby man that India stick with the MCIWS.
Life of Soldiers: AK 12 to Replace INSAS : Who is Behind the Lobby