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by Koustav K
An indigenously produced 5.56mm Excalibur assault rifle, is awaiting user trials and final certification, even as the Army seems to be moving away to a bigger calibre rifle than what has been produced by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) however an Army officials stated that it's user trials and the process for a new rifle would continue simultaneously.
Fifteen prototypes of Excalibur rifles are ready at Rifle Factory Ishapore for the user and Director General Quality Assurance (DGQA) evaluation and awaiting trial directive from the Infantry Directorate. The project was a joint effort of the OFB and Infantry Directorate.
“The Rifle Factory Ishapore has produced 15 prototypes with modifications based on user feedback on reliability, weight, length, compatibility with international sights, aesthetics etc. and has been evaluated by users at the Army's Infantry School at Mhow. Army has recently asked for a few additional features to be incorporated in the rifle. OFB has assured introduction of proposed balance four modifications in a time-bound manner,” OFB officials said.
Excalibur rifle is lighter, more compact and fully automatic capable. It is better than INSAS in both open field operations as well as close quarters. The gas-operated, fully automatic rifle has a foldable butt, Picatinny rail for mounting Holographic, telescopic & night sights, sensors and bipods.
One good thing about INSAS platform is that it works on a long stroke piston and has very simple chambering using only two locking lugs. Other very important is that it is dirt cheap. INSAS rifle performs well on a very large range of temperature -50 to 50 degree Celsius. Excalibur inherits these properties already. Many weapons of foreign origin like Beretta ARX 160, CZ-805 BREN, IMI Galil ACE, Colt M4 were unable to work efficiently over this range of temperature.
On 1st September 2015 Gen Singh, accompanied by Lieutenant General Sanjay Kulkarni, Director General Infantry (DGI), visited the Rifle Factory Ishapore. The Infantry Director General, put the prototype through the water and mud tests, in which the rifle is fired after being fully immersed. The Excalibur handily passed these tests, which all four foreign rifles - Beretta ARX 160, CZ-805 BREN, IMI Galil ACE, Colt M4 had failed to clear. The Excalibur rifle is operated by Assam rifles, the oldest paramilitary force in India.
“There are a large number of INSAS rifles which need replacement and repairs. They need to be maintained till the new process is completed. So Excalibur can be certified and used to replace the INSAS till the new rifles are procured,” a senior officer of the Army observed.
Once evaluation and final user trials of the rifle completes, it will be manufactured by the OFB in Rifle Factory Ishapore and could be in the hands of infantry soldiers within two years. The Rifle Factory Ishapore has a long history of developing and making rifles. During the World Wars, it manufactured many weapons starting from Lee Enfield Mk-1 to 7.62x51mm NATO L1A1 SLR and 7.62x51mm 1A1 rifle also famously known as the “Ishapore Rifle” after the 1962 Sino-Indian war was the mainstay of the Indian security forces for several decades. The factory manufactures many military and civilian weapons.
Koustav K is an ardent fan of IDN and a keen defense enthusiast. This piece on the EXCALIBUR Assault Rifle written exclusively for IDN. Views expressed are his own.
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